Pilot Debrief

Piper PA23 near Unknown, GM — 2019-10-17

Final reportCEN20LA021
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Date
2019-10-17
Location
Unknown, GM, USA
Aircraft
Piper PA23
Registration
N778PA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

The airplane’s descent into the ocean for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

Flight track data showed the airplane take off, after which the airplane proceeded on a south heading toward its intended destination. The first portion of the flight was conducted at an altitude of about 15,000 ft msl. When the airplane was about 120 nm from the intended destination, it made a slight course correction to the right and descended to about 6,500 ft msl. About 2.75 hours into the flight, the airplane passed over its intended destination but made no course correction or altitude changes. The airplane continued out over the Gulf of Mexico for another 2.25 hours where the flight track ended. A search for the airplane was not successful. The investigation could not determine the reason the airplane overflew the destination. The airplane was presumed to have impacted water in the Gulf of Mexico and the pilot was presumed fatally injured.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Other
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not communicate with air traffic control during the flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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