What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation traveling from Georgetown to Miami, the crew of a four-engine aircraft identified a leak within the number three main fuel system. Rather than diverting immediately, the flight continued toward its destination. Shortly after this discovery, all four engines ceased functioning. Realizing that reaching Miami was no longer possible, the pilot descended and performed an emergency ditching in Biscayne Bay.
While the aircraft was lost to the water following the impact, all three crew members were successfully rescued from the scene.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical errors in flight management. The primary reason for the loss of power was fuel exhaustion resulting from a leak in the number three fuel system. Contributing factors included:
- Inadequate monitoring of the remaining fuel supply
- Poorly managed fuel levels during the flight
- Deficiencies in in-flight planning
- Failure to divert after passing Nassau and Bimini while operating with low fuel reserves