Incident Overview
A Cessna 402C aircraft ditched in the Atlantic Ocean after experiencing a total loss of power in both engines. The three occupants on board escaped uninjured and were subsequently picked up by a nearby boat. The aircraft sank in approximately 800 feet of water about five minutes after the ditching.
Fuel Findings
Post-accident inspection of operator records, combined with a statement from the previous pilot who flew the aircraft, indicated that approximately 26 pounds of fuel remained on board at the time of the accident. A representative from the Cessna Aircraft Company stated that the Cessna 402C has an unusable fuel capacity of 44.4 pounds in critical flight attitudes and that this figure is lower in more normal attitudes.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the probable cause of the accident was loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors included improper preflight by the pilot-in-command, improper fuel consumption calculations, and failure to refuel.