20040929025789A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bnorm BN-2A-27 · Manati, Puerto Rico · September 29, 2004

Date: September 29, 2004 · 18:45 local
Place: Manati, Puerto Rico
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: UOIA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N902GD
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA04LA133
Reported as: Bnorm BN2A27
Reported engine: Lycoming O540*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 535 total535 in the last 90 days

N902GDRegistration cancelled Dec 1, 2004 · Britten-Norman BN-2A-27S/N 905 · Built 1981 Airframe modelBritten-Norman BN-2A-27 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On September 29, 2004, aircraft N902GD departed from mayaguez (maz) approximately 6:35 pm, going to isla grande (sig) puerto rico. The flight was expected to arrive at sig around 7:00 pm. The aircraft was declared missing by the owner and the local authorities. The search and rescue operation by the USCG and the local police was initiated that same night. The next day the two main and nose gear were found floating in the ocean. Neither the aircraft or the pilot's body were ever found.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004, AIRCRAFT N902GD DEPARTED FROM MAYAGUEZ (MAZ) APPROXIMATELY 6:35 PM, GOING TO ISLA GRANDE (SIG) PUERTO RICO. THE FLIGHT WAS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT SIG AROUND 7:00 PM. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DECLARED MISSING BY THE OWNER AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION BY THE USCG AND THE LOCAL POLICE WAS INITIATED THAT SAME NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THE TWO MAIN AND NOSE GEAR WERE FOUND FLOATING IN THE OCEAN. NEITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PILOT'S BODY WERE EVER FOUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA04LA133Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportVega Baja, PRThe pilot's improper inflight planning which resulted in an inflight encounter with weather (low ceilings and thunderstorms), his loss of aircraft control, and an inflight collision with the ocean during uncontrolled descent.Sep 29, 2004 · Destroyed