Summary
On July 24, 1994, a Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 (N63317) was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
On July 24, 1994, about 1507 eastern daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 601, N63317, registered to Island Air Export, Inc., was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 1458 from the Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida.
The pilot stated that smoke and heat started coming from under the instrument panel followed by failure of the communication radios.
This accident is documented in NTSB report MIA94LA182. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N63317.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 24, 1994, about 1507 eastern daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 601, N63317, registered to Island Air Export, Inc., was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 1458 from the Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida.
The pilot stated that smoke and heat started coming from under the instrument panel followed by failure of the communication radios. He then turned off the master battery switch and smoke "poured" out from under the instrument panel. He elected to ditch the airplane near a boat and he was rescued by the occupants.
The airplane was not recovered; therefore, no determination could be made as to the reason for the reported smoke in the cockpit.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA94LA182