N1247T
PIPER PA-34-200
THE PILOT FELL ASLEEP WHILE ENROUTE FROM SPRINGFIELD, KY TO CROSSVILLE, TN WHEN HE AWOKE 5 HOURS LATER HE FOUND THAT HE WAS OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, 210 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY, FL, AND HAD ONLY 20 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAING. HE DECLARED MAYDAY ON 121.5 AND WAS ASSISTED BY COAST GUARD AND AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT. THEY DIRECTED HIM TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, ST. PETERSBURG, FL WHILE ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT THE ENGINES QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED, 70 MILES WEST OF ST. PETERSBURG. HE WAS RESCUED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER.
On February 17, 1994, at 1155 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200, N1247T, registered to Alan K. Clark, ditched in the Gulf of Mexico, about 70 nm west of St. Petersburg, Florida, following loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, while on a 14 CFR Part 91, business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed and the airline transport pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Springfield, Kentucky on February 17, 1994, at 0615. The pilot stated that after departure from Springfield, Kentucky enroute to Crossville, Tennessee, he fell asleep due to not having had sufficient sleep. When he woke up about 1130 he was over the Gulf of Mexico, about 210 miles south of Panama City, Florida. The fuel quantity gauges showed almost empty. He transmitted a mayday on 121.5 mhz and reported that he was running out of fuel. Air Force and Coast Guard aircraft heard the mayday and they located and joined up with him, and directed him toward St. Petersburg, Florida, the closest airport. After flying 100 miles toward St. Petersburg, both engines stopped due to fuel exhaustion and he ditched. A Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene and he was rescued.
THE PILOT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION (FAILURE TO REMAIN AWAKE) RESULTING IN EXTENDED FLIGHT OVER WATER FOLLOWED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION, TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND DITCHING BEFORE RETURNING TO LAND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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