# NTSB ERA10FAMS1: Cirrus SR22, N723LJ, Gulf of Mexico, December 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: December 15, 2009, 16:16 local (21:16 UTC) - Place: Gulf of Mexico - Coordinates: 27.366111, -85.433609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3661&lon=-85.4336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Missing aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10FAMS1 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FAMS1 ## Probable cause Undetermined (airplane and pilot missing). ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Missing aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff from the coastal airport, the airplane made a left turn to the west, and the pilot was approved for a frequency change by air traffic control. There were no further known communications with the pilot. A radar target consistent with the airplane's departure was observed flying westbound over gulf waters. The target climbed to an altitude of 9,900 feet mean sea level (msl), where it remained until radar contact was lost. The last radar target was observed about 1 hour after takeoff, about 150 miles west-southwest of the departure airport, traveling at a ground speed of 167 knots. The pilot's spouse was not aware that he had been flying and reported the airplane missing 2 days later. Search and Rescue personnel conducted three sorties which covered 1,890 square miles with negative results. At the time of this writing, the location of the airplane, and the condition of the pilot, are not known. The airplane had accumulated about 500 hours of operation since new, and 100 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 8 months prior to the flight. The pilot had accumulated about 700 hours of total flight experience, which included about 520 hours in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2009, at 1616 eastern standard time, radar contact was lost with a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N723LJ, while in cruise flight over the Gulf of Mexico. As of November 22, 2010, the airplane had not been located. The airplane was presumed destroyed and the certificated private pilot was presumed killed; however, as of the date of this report, the location of the airplane, and the condition of the certificated private pilot were not known. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that departed Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida, about 1520. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot's wife, the pilot, who was a retired doctor, had lunch at home about 1130. He had a meeting scheduled with a business partner in the local area. She was not aware of him having any plans to go flying. The pilot's wife did not have any further contact with the pilot. She subsequently learned that the pilot did not attend the meeting, and when he did not return home, contacted local police. The airplane was based at SPG. A witness at a fixed-based-operator, who spoke with the pilot, stated that he asked to have the airplane taken out of its hangar, and the pilot sounded the same as he normally did. Witnesses at SPG observed the pilot at the airport and reported observing the airplane taxiing for takeoff. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), review of air traffic control communications revealed that the airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 7, with a left turn to the west, by the SPG air traffic control tower at 1517. At 1520, the airplane was approved for a frequency change. There were no further known communications with the airplane. Radar data revealed a radar target consistent with the airplane's departure. The target subsequently proceeded westbound over the Gulf of Mexico and climbed to an altitude of 9,900 feet, where it remained until radar contact was lost. The last radar target was observed at 1616:35, about 150 miles west-southwest of SPG at an altitude of 9,900 feet, and traveling at a ground speed of 167 knots. The pilot's wife was not aware that the pilot's airplane was missing until December 17, 2009, and the airplane was subsequently reported as overdue to the United States Coast Guard at 1711. Search and Rescue personnel conducted three sorties which covered 1,890 square miles over 13 hours with negative results. According to FAA records, the four-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 2402, was manufactured in 2007, and issued a standard airworthiness certificate on March 13, 2007. It was constructed primarily of composite materials, and equipped with a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N, 310-horsepower engine. The airplane was purchased new by the pilot through a limited liability company on March 15, 2007. Review of maintenance records revealedthat the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on March 25, 2009. At that time, the airplane had been operated for about 400 hours. In addition, an oil change was performed on August 8, 2009, at a total time of 470.4 hours. The pilot had flown the airplane for about 100 hours since the annual inspection. The airplane's last known refueling was performed on November 20, 2009, when 19.4 gallons of 100-low-lead aviation gasoline was added to the airplane at SPG. The pilot's family did not believe the airplane had been flown in-between November 20, and December 15, 2009. The pilot, age 50, held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He reported 410 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on June 23, 2008. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the most recent entry was dated November 20, 2009. At that time, the pilot had accumulated about 700 hours of total flight experience, which included about 520 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot had logged approximately 1.4 and 14.7 hours during the 30 and 90 days, which preceded the flight; respectfully. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N723LJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N723LJ-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 2402, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR22 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2402 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: TCM IO-550N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2009, 100 hours before - Departed: SPG, St Petersburg, FL - Destination: Unknown - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2008; flight hours: 700 total, 520 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 172 °F, dew point 147 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SPG, 150 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 20091215052949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091215052949A), Dec 15, 2009: Cirrus Desi SR22, OC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On December 15, 2009, at 1520 EDT, a Cirrus SR-22, N723LJ, serial no. 2402, owned and operated by mark allan nichter, departed albert whitted airport, spg, and… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75193. 766 KB in all. - NTSB Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Air Traffic Control Communications (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Air%20Traffic%20Control%20Communications-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Bill of Sale (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Bill%20of%20Sale-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Airworthiness Certificate (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Airworthiness%20Certificate-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Work Orders (excerpts) (item 5, .PDF, 548 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Work%20Orders%20(excerpts)-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Receipt (item 6, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF - SPG Weather Observations (item 7, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SPG%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF 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.