# NTSB DEN03FAMS1: Beech F33A, N927JL, Greer, AZ, September 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: September 21, 2003, 12:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Greer, AZ - Coordinates: 33.905555, -109.562225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9056&lon=-109.5622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03FAMS1 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FAMS1 ## Probable cause The airplane is missing for unknown reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Missing aircraft, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined ## Analysis Family members and friends of the pilot said that he had departed the southern California area. He landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data last recorded the airplane at N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground speed. The pilot did talk with the ARTCC control approximately 3 minutes after the last radar return, and he was told to contact Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) over St John, Arizona. His last position and heading indicated that the airplane was flying into rising mountainous terrain, with elevations topping at 11,250 feet. The Civil Air Patrol units of New Mexico and Arizona flew extensive searches for the missing aircraft, but the airplane was never found. The search was suspended on October 18, 2003. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 21, 2003, at approximately 1235 mountain daylight time, a Beech F33A, N927JL, dropped from radar just west of Mt. Baldy, near Greer, Arizona. The airplane was never found; the airplane is presumed destroyed. The instrument rated commercial pilot and his passenger are presumed to be fatally injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight that originated from Mesa, Arizona, approximately 1 hour before disappearing from radar and voice communication. The pilot was flight following at the time of the accident; family members said that the airplane was en route to Dallas, Texas, and the pilot was to continue on to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Family members and friends of the pilot said that the pilot had departed the southern California area. They said that he had landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data from Phoenix ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center), last recorded the airplane at: N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground speed. The pilot did talk with the ARTCC control approximately 3 minutes after the last radar return, and he was told to contact Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) over St John, Arizona (the next radar sector was Albuquerque, New Mexico). The last recorded radar data indicates that the airplane was flying into rising mountainous terrain, with elevations topping at 11,250 feet. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical records indicate that the pilot had a third class medical, and his last physical examination was on April 5, 2002. The pilot had applied for new aircraft insurance policy on June 25, 2003, and on that, he reported that he had 10,300 hours of flight experience, with over 9,000 hours in make and model. On that application, the pilot said that he flies an estimated 300 hours per year. FAA records indicate that the pilot purchased the airplane in December 1980. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, five seat airplane, which was manufactured by Beechcraft, in 1971. The airplane had a maximum takeoff gross weight of 3,400 pounds. It was powered by a Continental IO-520, reciprocating, normally-aspirated, fuel injected, direct-drive, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed, six-cylinder engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 285 horsepower at sea level. The pilot's fiancée said that the last annual inspection was performed during April 2003. The airplane received a zero time engine on June 1, 1996. This engine received a top overhaul on December 17, 2002. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Civil Air Patrol units of New Mexico and Arizona flew extensive searches for the missing aircraft; the airplane was never found. The search was suspended on October 18, 2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N927JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N927JL-2007-03-12), registration cancelled 2007-03-12, S/N CE-346, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech F33A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-346 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2004 - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: ADS, Dallas, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SJN, 37 nm away ## 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 20030921036389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030921036389A), Sep 21, 2003: Beech F33A, Socorro, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) On September 21, 2003, approximately 1300, a Beechcraft F-33A (N927JL) registered to dynamics aviation, inc., 12th & market street, box 2306, wilmington,… 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.