What happened
During a flight returning from North Eleuthera, Bahamas, to Fort Lauderdale International Airport, the pilot of the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot had completed several legs of a flight itinerary involving Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Chubb Cay, and Big Whale Cay without performing any additional refueling after the initial morning departure.
At 17:57, the pilot notified Miami Approach Control that the aircraft was at minimum fuel, though no emergency was declared at that moment. Upon contacting the Fort Lauderdale Air Traffic Control Tower, the pilot requested an alternative runway. Shortly after 18:00, the pilot officially declared an emergency, informing controllers that the aircraft might arrive "dead stick." The pilot indicated that the airport was in sight and that an attempt would be made to glide to the runway, but subsequently reported being unable to reach the shoreline.
The aircraft ditched in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 3/4 of a mile from the Dania Beach shoreline, near John Lloyd State Park, in water roughly 15 feet deep. The flight involved the pilot and four passengers. While all occupants successfully exited the submerged aircraft, one passenger drowned in the ocean. The pilot noted that the individual experienced extreme panic during the attempt to use a life vest.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft and its engines showed no mechanical failures or system anomalies prior to the event. The primary cause of the ditching was fuel exhaustion, as the pilot had not refueled the aircraft following the first flight of the day. Additionally, the passengers did not receive a pre-departure safety briefing prior to the flight.