What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed marathon airport (mth), VFR, for naples airport (apf). Adsb data showed flight track from mth at 1312, climbed to 1,450 feet MSL toward apf at a 336 heading and 125 knots. Flight data shows rapid climb from 1,200 ft MSL to 1,800 ft MSL at 1324 and slowing to 74 knots. At 1327 aircraft started with erratic heading, altitude, and groundspeed excursions. Aircraft then completed a 240 degree turn to the east, altitude varied from 1,600 ft MSL to 800 ft MSL and speeds between 83 and 143 knots. Aircraft then proceeded with a left turn to 336 course at 800 ft MSL and 100 knots at 1331. At 1343 adsb data was lost. Pilot never established communication with ATC after departing mth. Aircraft debris field found 22 miles sw of everglades airpark (X01) by a 42' fishing boat that reported to the coast guard. The airplane front and rear landing gear were found along with personal items that identify the aircraft registration number and pilot information. Keywest coast guard conducted a search for pilot and airplane from 03/17/2022 to sunset 03/19/2022. Airplane and pilot were not located. Aircraft debris found was turned over to the national park service and picked up by privacy data omitted.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MARATHON AIRPORT (MTH), VFR, FOR NAPLES AIRPORT (APF). ADSB DATA SHOWED FLIGHT TRACK FROM MTH AT 1312, CLIMBED TO 1,450 FEET MSL TOWARD APF AT A 336 HEADING AND 125 KNOTS. FLIGHT DATA SHOWS RAPID CLIMB FROM 1,200 FT MSL TO 1,800 FT MSL AT 1324 AND SLOWING TO 74 KNOTS. AT 1327 AIRCRAFT STARTED WITH ERRATIC HEADING, ALTITUDE, AND GROUNDSPEED EXCURSIONS. AIRCRAFT THEN COMPLETED A 240 DEGREE TURN TO THE EAST, ALTITUDE VARIED FROM 1,600 FT MSL TO 800 FT MSL AND SPEEDS BETWEEN 83 AND 143 KNOTS. AIRCRAFT THEN PROCEEDED WITH A LEFT TURN TO 336 COURSE AT 800 FT MSL AND 100 KNOTS AT 1331. AT 1343 ADSB DATA WAS LOST. PILOT NEVER ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION WITH ATC AFTER DEPARTING MTH. AIRCRAFT DEBRIS FIELD FOUND 22 MILES SW OF EVERGLADES AIRPARK (X01) BY A 42' FISHING BOAT THAT REPORTED TO THE COAST GUARD. THE AIRPLANE FRONT AND REAR LANDING GEAR WERE FOUND ALONG WITH PERSONAL ITEMS THAT IDENTIFY THE AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION NUMBER AND PILOT INFORMATION. KEYWEST COAST GUARD CONDUCTED A SEARCH FOR PILOT AND AIRPLANE FROM 03/17/2022 TO SUNSET 03/19/2022. AIRPLANE AND PILOT WERE NOT LOCATED. AIRCRAFT DEBRIS FOUND WAS TURNED OVER TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND PICKED UP BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.