Cessna 340A Fuel Exhaustion Crash at Grand Bahama International Airport (N340MM)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On 18 August 2014, a fixed-wing, twin-engine Cessna 340A aircraft with United States registration N340MM and serial number 340A0635 crashed into the waters near Grand Bahama International Airport (MYGF) in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. The accident occurred at 10:02 a.m. local time (1402Z) while the aircraft was on a left base for runway 06. The flight departed Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (KOMN) at 8:51 a.m. local time (1251Z) under an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan, carrying one pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was en route to Grand Bahama International Airport when the incident occurred. ## Approach and Loss of Communication After 9:00 a.m. (1300Z), Freeport Approach Control received an IFR inbound flight plan for N340MM from Miami Center. During initial contact, the pilot was issued a weather advisory, re-cleared to the Freeport VOR, and instructed to maintain 4,000 feet and report at the JAKEL intersection. The pilot was also advised to expect an RNAV runway 6 approach. After acknowledging the instructions and reporting crossing JAKEL, Freeport Approach instructed the aircraft to descend to 2,000 feet and cleared it direct to the JENIB intersection for the RNAV runway 6 approach. While descending, the pilot reported having the field in sight and requested a visual approach. Freeport Approach re-cleared the aircraft for a visual approach and directed the pilot to contact Freeport Control Tower on frequency 118.5. At 9:57 a.m. (1357Z), N340MM established contact with Freeport Tower and was cleared for a visual approach to runway 6, with instructions to join the left base and report at 5 DME. ## Fuel Exhaustion and Crash At 10:01 a.m. (1401Z), the pilot reported being out of fuel and stated the intention to deadstick the aircraft into the airport from seven miles out at an altitude of 1,500 feet. One minute later, the pilot radioed ATC, indicating that they “were going down and expected to be in the water about five miles north of the airport.” Freeport Tower attempted to confirm the transmission but was unable to do so. Subsequent calls to N340MM failed to reestablish communication. Freeport Control Tower then requested assistance from departing and arriving aircraft to overfly the vicinity of the last reported position to locate the aircraft. An inbound aircraft reported seeing an aircraft down five miles from the airport on the 300-degree radial of the ZFP VOR. Search and rescue operations were initiated, and the aircraft was located at GPS coordinates 26° 35.708’N and 078° 47.431’W. The aircraft sustained substantial damage from the impact and crash sequence. There were no survivors. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a lack of situational awareness resulting in a stalled condition and loss of control while attempting to remedy a fuel exhaustion condition at a very low altitude. Contributing factors included the pilot’s incorrect fuel calculations, which led to fuel exhaustion in both engines, a stalled aircraft, and loss of situational awareness.