N5458A

On January 13, 1999, at 1020 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 210N, N5458A, ditched in the Atlantic Ocean 300 yards off the coast of Hallandale Beach, Florida. The airplane was owned by K.P. Cleary & Associates, Inc., and operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The private pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 1010, destined for Marathon, Florida.

According to the pilot, preflight inspection of the airplane revealed approximately 55 gallons of fuel on board and no abnormalities were noted during the engine run-up. The pilot stated, while climbing through 1500 feet MSL, the engine RPM began to fluctuate as the throttle was increased. The pilot informed Miami Approach Control of the engine problem and was given clearance to fly direct to FLL. According to the pilot, after the engine stopped running, he switched tanks multiple times while working through the restart checklist. The pilot stated, at this point the airspeed had diminished to stall speed and the airplane was at a very low altitude. The pilot extended the flaps and ditched the airplane in the Atlantic Ocean. The pilot was retrieved from the water by the Hollywood Beach Patrol. The airplane sank in 30 feet of water.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage after its recovery, the airplane was substantially damaged. The post recovery inspection of the engine revealed no significant mechanical problems. The FAA inspector also noted that, the engine was removed from the wreckage and ran at operating power settings for more than ten minutes.