What happened
During a flight transitioning from Cape Eleuthera toward Nassau, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous failure of both engines while at cruising altitude. Following the loss of power, the pilot initiated a descent to lower an altitude. The flight ended when the aircraft was ditched in the waters near Ship Channel Cay, Exuma. While the pilot was successfully rescued from the scene, the aircraft sank and remains lost.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the dual engine failure during the cruise phase was inadequate preflight preparation. Several contributing elements were noted in the official report:
- The crew experienced fuel exhaustion
- There was mismanagement of the available fuel supply
- The fuel quantity gauge was providing erratic readings
- The aircraft's final position was in the water following a forced landing