Aero Coach Aviation International

Crashed on approach to Treasure Cay Airport, killing all five occupants.

On 5/27/87 at about 0915 edt, the pilot departed Palm Beach-Intl Airport (PBI) on a flight to Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. When the aircraft did not arrive at the destination, a search was initiated. The aircraft was not found and was presumed to have been destroyed. The pilot was presumed to have been fatally injured. Radar data revealed that the aircraft had departed toward Marsh Harbour, but the last contact with the flight was approximately 12 miles east of PBI. An aircraft was seen flying eastbound over the destination airport at about the time of the estimated arrival time. Also, another pilot thought she heard a radio transmission from the missing aircraft when the pilot reported in the vicinity of Grand Bahama Island.

The aircraft was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean following engine failure. The pilot estimated fuel on board during pre-flight from the electronic fuel gauges. The aircraft flew two hours and 16 minutes before the engines quit in a mode of fuel exhaustion with surging prior to stopping. Post accident investigation using fuel slips revealed a fuel burn within 10 to 15 gallons of fuel exhaustion. The fuel gauges failed on the last leg of the flight and the passengers stated the pilot paid a lot of attention to these gauges. The pilot wanted to divert to Freeport but did not because the weather was below minimums. After ditching the aircraft sank in 800 feet of water. All three occupants were rescued.