LAKE HILLS, TN, USA
N5763P
PIPER PA-24-250
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER BECAME INOP; HOWEVER, THE PLT COULD RECEIVE TRANSMISSIONS & WAS PROVIDED VECTORS TOWARD THE DESTINATION ARPT. AFTER STARTING A DESCENT NEAR THE DESTINATION, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER. A WATER LAND ENG WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH TERRAINS & DARKNESS. AFTER THE WATER LANDING, ALL 4 OCCUPANTS EXITED THE ACFT WHILE IT WAS STILL FLOATING. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, NONE RECEIVED INJURIES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS COULD NOT SWIM. SHE & ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE DROWNED. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED, ONLY RIVER WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 4 HRS & 6 MIN PRIOR TO CRASHING. FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE FLT AS ESTIMATED TO BE 60.27 GAL. THE FUEL CAPACITY FOR THE ACFT WAS 60 GAL. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS BRIEFED TO EXPECT IMC CONDITIONS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT. DURING THE FLT, HE HAD CRUISED AT 8000 FT. AT CHATTANOOGA, THE CEILING WAS 3000 FT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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