No fatalities

Both Engines Fail Over Ocean, Pilot Ditches Aircraft; Four Rescued After Two Days (N3840C)

Atlantic Ocean, WorldFlight

On August 4, 1991, a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 (registration N3840C) operated by Palm Beach Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, World in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inflight loss of power of both engines for undetermined reasons followed by a ditching in the ocean. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported dual engine failure while in level flight. After unsuccessful restart attempts, the aircraft was ditched in the ocean and sank. The pilot and three passengers were rescued two days later. Fuel estimates indicated sufficient fuel.

Incident Overview

An aircraft experienced a dual engine failure while in level flight. The pilot reported that both engines lost power and all attempts to restart them were unsuccessful. Faced with a complete loss of thrust, the pilot executed a ditching procedure, landing the aircraft on the ocean surface. The aircraft subsequently sank and was not recovered.

Rescue

The pilot and three passengers were rescued two days after the ditching. No additional details about the rescue operation or the condition of the occupants were provided in the official report.

Fuel Considerations

According to fuel consumption estimates, the aircraft should have had adequate fuel for the entire flight plus a reserve. The reason for the engine failure remains undetermined based on the available information.

Official Findings

The probable cause determined by the investigation was an inflight loss of power of both engines for undetermined reasons, followed by a ditching in the ocean.