# NTSB ATL98FAMS1: Piper PA-28-181, N25626, Missing, August 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: August 18, 1998, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC) - Place: Missing - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98FAMS1 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43794/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98FAMS1 ## Probable cause The aircraft is missing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Missing aircraft, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The flight departed Matthew Town in the Bahama Islands, enroute to Kingston. At 1248, the pilot reported their position at Benet intersection, which is 15 miles from the western tip of the south claw of Haiti. The pilot was instructed to contact Norman Manley Tower in Kingston. No further radio contact was received from N25626. The flight never arrived at the destination airport. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a two-day air and sea search for the missing airplane. In addition to the air and sea efforts, the Government of Cuba was asked for assistance. Ramp checks were conducted at several airports along the intended route of flight. These efforts failed to locate the airplane. No aircraft wreckage debris was found on the sea. Satellite weather images taken at the approximate time N25626 checked in with Port-au Prince, and in the vicinity of Benet Intersection, revealed cloud cover over Benet intersection, possibly associated with convective activity. There were four life vests placed on the airplane when the flight initially departed Titusville, Florida. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1998, at an undetermined time, a Piper PA-28-181, N25626, was reported missing and is assumed destroyed, while over the Caribbean Sea. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Weather data recovered during the initial search efforts disclosed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the possible time of the accident. The private pilot and the three passengers are all presumed fatal. According to the fixed base operator, where the airplane was rented, the occupants were British, South African, and Austrian, citizens. According to Customs officials, the flight departed Matthew Town, in the Bahama Islands, at 1023. According to the fixed base operator, the pilot rented the airplane on August 7, 1998 for a trip to the Grand Bahama Island. The pilot and his friends were scheduled to return to Titusville, Florida, on August 24, 1998. When the airplane did not arrive as scheduled, the owner became concerned and began to inquire. Upon establishing contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, the fixed base operator learned that, on August 19, 1998, the U.S. Coast Guard had initiated a sea search for N25626. The search efforts were based upon an overdue airplane report from the air traffic authorities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They reported that N25626 never arrived at the destination airport in Kingston, Jamaica. According to the air traffic authorities in Port-au-Prince, at 1248, the pilot reported their position at Benet intersection, which is 15 miles from the western tip of the south claw of Haiti. The pilot was instructed to contact Norman Manley Tower in Kingston. No further radio contact was received from N25626. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a two-day air and sea search for the missing airplane. In addition to the air and sea efforts, the Government of Cuba was asked for assistance. Ramp checks were conducted at several airports along the intended route of flight. These efforts failed to locate the airplane. No aircraft wreckage debris was found on the sea (see attached U.S Coast Guard communication and search report). There were satellite weather images taken at the approximate time N25626 checked in with Port-au Prince, and in the vicinity of Benet Intersection. A review of the weather data revealed cloud cover over Benet intersection and the possibility of convective activity. A review of flight performance data for the Piper PA28-181 disclosed that the total distance between the last departure point and the destination airport is approximately 254 nautical miles. According to the performance charts for the Piper PA-28-181, at 75% cruise power the airplane has a range of 500 to 590 miles. The fixed base operator stated that the pilot was not authorized to fly the airplane beyond the Grand Bahama Island. There were four life vest placed on the airplane when the flight initially departed Titusville. The fixed base operator also stated that he was not aware of the pilot's intentions to fly to Kingston. However, a friend of the pilot stated that she was aware of the pilot and his friends intention to continue their trip to Kingston. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25626](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25626-2000-06-21), registration cancelled 2000-06-21, S/N 28-8590091 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8590091 - Airframe hours: 4432 - Engines: Lycoming O-260-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul D. Baxter - Registered owner: Discovery Aviation Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 16, 1998, 103 hours before - Departed: MATTHEW TOWN - Destination: MKJP, KINGSTON - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: O/S ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980818030959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980818030959A), Aug 18, 1998: Piper PA28181, Port-Au-Prince, HA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. (.4)The flight departed matthew town in the bahama islands, enroute to kingston. At 1248, the pilot reported their position at benet intersection, which is 15… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.