Piper PA 23-150 N3180P

Summary

On 15 July 2016 at about 01:15 local time, a Piper PA 23-150 registered N3180P was involved in an accident near Kona, Hawaii, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2016 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Kona, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

19.7389, -156.0456

Aircraft

Piper PA 23-150

Registration

N3180P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalaeloa → Kona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA140

2 people had minor injuries.

The total loss of power in both engines during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered from the ocean.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country, overwater flight in the multiengine airplane with another commercial pilot on board, who was the nonflying pilot. The pilots reported that, at departure, both of the fuel gauges indicated 3/4 tank. While in cruise flight at 5,500 ft, both engines began running roughly; however, after descending the airplane to 3,500 ft, both engines seemed to smooth out. Shortly thereafter, the right engine surged and lost power, followed by the left engine surging and losing power. The pilots reported that they turned on both auxiliary fuel pumps and followed the emergency checklist but that power was not restored to either engine. They added that, at the time of the power loss, the fuel gauges indicated 1/2 tank. The pilot subsequently ditched the airplane in the ocean, and both pilots successfully evacuated the airplane. The airplane was unable to be recovered, which prevented any examination; therefore, the cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.