What happened
The flight began with a leg from KFLL to MYEF, during which the pilot utilized full main tanks and approximately 10 gallons in each auxiliary tank. Upon arrival at Exuma International Airport, the main tanks were at just over half capacity. While 10 gallons were added to each auxiliary tank at MYEF, no further fuel was purchased for the return trip. During the departure from MYEF toward KFLL, the pilot leaned the fuel/air mixture while climbing to 10,000 feet. As the flight progressed, the auxiliary fuel was depleted, necessitating a switch to the main tanks.
While passing the DEKAL intersection at 4,000 feet, roughly 31 nautical miles southeast of KFLL, the right engine began to sputter, showing decreased manifold pressure and reaching red-line cylinder head temperatures. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control. Although vectors were provided to return to KFLL, the pilot did not follow them. While the left engine remained functional at full power, the pilot expressed concerns regarding altitude loss and the risks of flying over populated areas. Ultimately, the pilot chose to ditch the Piper aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean, and the wreckage was not recovered.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the aircraft, registration N61518, likely suffered from fuel exhaustion. Calculations performed by FAA inspectors indicated that the fuel levels would have been depleted at the same time and location where the pilot reported the engine failure. Additionally, while the pilot reported an inability to maintain altitude on a single engine, the aircraft was capable of a climb rate exceeding 170 feet-per-minute if operated correctly. The operator failed to provide requested fuel receipts or flight hour logs for the aircraft during the investigation.