What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 2/8/14, the aircraft owner,
Contacted the miami ARTCC watch desk seeking assistance in locating his aircraft, which had been rented
From him. Renters had been instructed to email the owner upon landing at destination, and owner had not received such notification for N2571U on 2/7/14, when the flight was to fly from mth to vrb. Review of audio and radar data revealed that zma had provided flight following to N2571U
Between mth until transferring radar and communication to HST approach control. After transitioning through hst/mia approach and pbi approach
Airspace, N2571U contacted the zma vrb terminal sector radar controller (R3) at 0026 UTC (2/8/14), reporting that he was fifteen miles south of fpr
At 450 feet. N2571U also advised that he was diverting from his intended initial destination of vrb to fpr, because of IFR conditions at vrb. The R3
Controller advised N2571U that he would not be able to provide flight following at that low altitude and that the minimum safe altitude in the vicinity of vrb was 1,600 feet. N2571U acknowledged the information. No further communication with N2571U occurred after this exchange. Aircraft parts were found off Florida east coast that assisted in identifying aircraft N2571U. Part found was a flap gap seal STC kit that ties part to aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
ON 2/8/14, THE AIRCRAFT OWNER,
CONTACTED THE MIAMI ARTCC WATCH DESK SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING HIS AIRCRAFT, WHICH HAD BEEN RENTED
FROM HIM. RENTERS HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO EMAIL THE OWNER UPON LANDING AT DESTINATION, AND OWNER HAD NOT RECEIVED SUCH NOTIFICATION FOR N2571U ON 2/7/14, WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS TO FLY FROM MTH TO VRB. REVIEW OF AUDIO AND RADAR DATA REVEALED THAT ZMA HAD PROVIDED FLIGHT FOLLOWING TO N2571U
BETWEEN MTH UNTIL TRANSFERRING RADAR AND COMMUNICATION TO HST APPROACH CONTROL. AFTER TRANSITIONING THROUGH HST/MIA APPROACH AND PBI APPROACH
AIRSPACE, N2571U CONTACTED THE ZMA VRB TERMINAL SECTOR RADAR CONTROLLER (R3) AT 0026 UTC (2/8/14), REPORTING THAT HE WAS FIFTEEN MILES SOUTH OF FPR
AT 450 FEET. N2571U ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WAS DIVERTING FROM HIS INTENDED INITIAL DESTINATION OF VRB TO FPR, BECAUSE OF IFR CONDITIONS AT VRB. THE R3
CONTROLLER ADVISED N2571U THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AT THAT LOW ALTITUDE AND THAT THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE IN THE VICINITY OF VRB WAS 1,600 FEET. N2571U ACKNOWLEDGED THE INFORMATION. NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH N2571U OCCURRED AFTER THIS EXCHANGE. AIRCRAFT PARTS WERE FOUND OFF FLORIDA EAST COAST THAT ASSISTED IN IDENTIFYING AIRCRAFT N2571U. PART FOUND WAS A FLAP GAP SEAL STC KIT THAT TIES PART TO AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.