N80562

On October 4, 2001, at 0745 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N80562, was destroyed after it ditched in the Chesapeake Bay about 5 miles east of White Stone, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the fight that originated at Reedville Airport (VA98), Reedville, Virginia, at 0700. No flight plan was filed for the fish spotting flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he departed with 20 gallons of fuel onboard. About 45-minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the engine stopped producing power. In a written statement, he said:

"My engine got rough then started to shake, started losing altitude - couldn't make it to land. I told the other spotters my engine was going out and I could not make it to shore, that I was going to put the plane in the water along side the Shearwater. I pulled the plane up at last minute and my tail hit first, then my main gear - the aircraft hit and flipped and sank in less than 15-20 seconds. I came out of plane about 3 or 4 seconds after impact. The Shearwater crew got me out of the water."

According to the Commonwealth of Virginia Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported, "that the engine started running rough and started missing, and then lost power and stopped running."

The pilot estimated that the airplane landed in 50-foot deep water. Due to environmental concerns, the airplane was not recovered.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the pilot did not know what caused the loss of engine power.

Weather at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF), Newport News, Virginia, about 34 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, at 0754, was reported as winds from 240 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 60 degrees F, dewpoint 57 degrees F, and altimeter 30.12 inches HG.

The pilot reported a total of 40,000 flight hours, of which 26,000 were in make and model.