Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlantic Ocean
Friday, August 10, 1990 15:38 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, ENROUTE TO FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMAS, WITH 3 PASSENGERS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ARRIVE AT DESTINATION AIRPORT. A 2 DAY SEARCH WAS INITIATED BY US COAST GUARD, AND TERMINATED WITH NEGATIVE SIGHTINGS. A BODY WAS RECOVERED BY THE US NAVY 9 DAYS LATER, OFF THE COAST OF VIRGINIA, AND IDENTIFIED BY A MEDICAL EXAMINER, FROM DENTAL RECORDS, AS A PASSENGER FROM THE MISSING AIRPLANE. NO WRECKAGE WAS SIGHTED. THE REMAINING PERSONNEL ARE MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNDETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

UNDETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE IS MISSING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1538
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Atlantic Ocean
Event State ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1249 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID VRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1016
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1004
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42237
Date of most recent change to record Apr 11 2003 1:29PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6946D
NTSB Number MIA90LA170
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4874
Certified Max Gross Weight 1840
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 20 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 147
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PLASSE, EDGAR P
Aircraft Owner Street Address 37 CLARA BARTON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NORTH OXFORD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01537
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PLASSE, EDGAR P.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 37 CLARA BARTON RD
Operator City NORTH OXFORD
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01537
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code X-26
Departure City SEBASTIAN
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYGF
Destination City FREEPORT
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --