N5078C
BEECH 65
THE PILOT STATED HE NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OF THE RIGHT ENGINE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FEATHER THE RIGHT PROPELLER. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 75 MI SE OF ST. CROIX. AFTER EXITING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT INFLATED A RAFT, AND WAS FOUND BY RESCUE PERSONNEL ABOUT 4 HRS LATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED.
On August 16, 1995, about 0720 Atlantic standard time, N5078C, a Beech BE-65 registered to and operated by Caribbean Food and Produce ditched in the Caribbean Sea while on a 14 CFR Part 91 cargo 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 pilot, the sole occupant, was located and rescued with minor injuries. The flight originated from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, about 45 minutes earlier. The pilot was hauling company supplies and was en route to Canefield Airport, Dominica. He reported the No. 2 engine was running rough. The engine then failed and the pilot was not able to feather the propeller. He ditched the airplane about 75 miles southeast of St. Croix. After exiting the airplane he inflated a raft, and was located by rescue personnel about 4 hours later.
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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