What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On January 5, 2000, at 2146EST, a Cessna N156RA, operated by the airline training academy, and piloted by Mr. Mohamed a. cherif, crashed into the atlantic ocean near st. Augustine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured. The pilot, Mr. Mohamed a. cherif, held a private pilot certificate issued on December 31, 1999. The certificate number is pending. The solo cross country flight originated at the orlando executive airport. Orlando, Florida, on January 5, 2000, at approximately 1915EST.(.4) the noninstrument-rated private pilot was on a night solo cross-country flight at 2,600 feet in radio contact with jacksonville approach. The airplane was subsequently observed by the controller on radar at 2,000 feet, heading 013 degrees, 112 knots at 0245:24. At 0245:57, the airplane was observed on radar at 1200 feet, heading 051 degrees, and the ground speed had increased to 124 knots. The pilot stated at 0245:58, 'I haven't any direction finder I don't see anything one six ro.' At 0246:28, radar contact was lost. The pilot had recorded as logged 1 hour of night pilot-in-command flight time. All simulated instrument time was dual instruction. The moon set at 2159 with only 1 percent illumination.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JANUARY 5, 2000, AT 2146EST, A CESSNA N156RA, OPERATED BY THE AIRLINE TRAINING ACADEMY, AND PILOTED BY MR. MOHAMED A. CHERIF, CRASHED INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE PILOT, MR. MOHAMED A. CHERIF, HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE ISSUED ON DECEMBER 31, 1999. THE CERTIFICATE NUMBER IS PENDING. THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT. ORLANDO, FLORIDA, ON JANUARY 5, 2000, AT APPROXIMATELY 1915EST.(.4) THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A NIGHT SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AT 2,600 FEET IN RADIO CONTACT WITH JACKSONVILLE APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY OBSERVED BY THE CONTROLLER ON RADAR AT 2,000 FEET, HEADING 013 DEGREES, 112 KNOTS AT 0245:24. AT 0245:57, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR AT 1200 FEET, HEADING 051 DEGREES, AND THE GROUND SPEED HAD INCREASED TO 124 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED AT 0245:58, 'I HAVEN'T ANY DIRECTION FINDER I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ONE SIX RO.' AT 0246:28, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PILOT HAD RECORDED AS LOGGED 1 HOUR OF NIGHT PILOT-IN-COMMAND FLIGHT TIME. ALL SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME WAS DUAL INSTRUCTION. THE MOON SET AT 2159 WITH ONLY 1 PERCENT ILLUMINATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.