# NTSB ERA12FAMS2: Cessna 150F, N8281S, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), June 8, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2012, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Coordinates: 37.635807, -72.861976 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6358&lon=-72.8620&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83989
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12FAMS2
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83989/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83989
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FAMS2

## 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: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071814), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Unknown: Missing aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/990/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After taking off from an airport in Pennsylvania, the airplane flew an easterly heading for 172 nautical miles until radar contact was lost over the Atlantic Ocean. A family member reported the airplane missing the following morning, and a Federal Aviation Administration Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued at that time. A search was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, but the airplane was not located. At the time of this writing, the location of the airplane and the condition of the pilot are not known.

## Factual narrative

On June 8, 2012, a Cessna 150F, N8281S, did not return to the departure airport, is missing and presumed to be substantially damaged. Weather conditions were unknown, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, personal flight which departed from Flying M Aerodrome (P91), Germansville, Pennsylvania about 1505 eastern daylight time. The certificated private pilot is missing and presumed to be fatally injured. On June 9, 2012, approximately 0800, a family member reported the airplane missing. A Federal Aviation Administration Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued at that time. A search was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, and the airplane was not located. The search was called off and the ALNOT was cancelled on June 13, 2012, around 1400. According to recorded radar data provided by the Civil Air Patrol, after departure, the airplane flew an easterly heading for 172 nautical miles until radar contact was lost over the Atlantic Ocean at 1710. A search for the airplane was initiated by the United States Coast Guard in areas off the New Jersey coast, but neither the airplane nor debris was located. The pilot, age 77, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and glider. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued on May 12, 2011. According to his logbook, he had accumulated 758.9 total hours of flight time, of which, 2.1 hours were in the past 90 days. The airplane was manufactured in 1965. The most recent annual inspection was performed on June 30, 2011. At the time of the airplane's disappearance the airplane and engine had accumulated approximately 2,402.6 total hours.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8281S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8281S-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 15061881, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15061881
- Airframe hours: 2392
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2011, 11 hours before
- Departed: P91, Germansville, PA
- Destination: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2011; flight hours: 758 total, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 205° at 6 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: LLNR

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83989. 14.4 MB in all.

- Missing Aircraft Alert Notice (item 1, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Missing%20Aircraft%20Alert%20Notice-Redacted.PDF
- Cessna 150 - Three View Drawing (item 2, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20150%20-%20Three%20View%20Drawing-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record: Pilot's Daughter (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Daughter-Master.PDF
- Memorandum Of Record: No Flight Services Provided (item 4, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%3A%20No%20Flight%20Services%20Provided-Master.PDF
- N8281S Radar Track (item 5, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N8281S%20Radar%20Track-Master.PDF
- Weather Satellite Images (item 6, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Satellite%20Images-Master.PDF
- NOAA Buoy Data Station 44025 (item 7, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NOAA%20Buoy%20Data%20Station%2044025-Master.PDF
- Airframe Maintenance Log Excerpt (item 8, .PDF, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF
- Engine Maintenance Log Excerpt (item 9, .PDF, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Logbook Excerpts (item 10, .PDF, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpts-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.

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