# NTSB MIA87LA164: Cessna 402C, N2652B, Missing Acft, Bahamas, May 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1987
- Place: Missing Acft, Bahamas
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 19, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31916/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA164

## 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

ON 5/27/87 AT ABOUT 0915 EDT, THE PLT DEPARTED PALM BEACH INTL ARPT (PBI) ON A FLT TO MARSH HARBOUR, GREAT ABACO ISLAND, BAHAMAS. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT WAS NOT FND & WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE PLT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED. RADAR DATA REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED TOWARD MARSH HARBOUR, BUT THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE FLT WAS APRX 12 MI EAST OF PBI. AN ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING EASTBOUND OVER THE DESTN ARPT AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME. ALSO, ANOTHER PLT THOUGHT SHE HEARD A RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE MISSING ACFT WHEN THE PLT RPRTD IN THE VCNTY OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2652B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2652B-2015-04-24), registration cancelled 2015-04-24, S/N 402C0345 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C0345
- Airframe hours: 9151
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Coach Aviation Int'L,Inc, doing business as Aero Coach
- Registered owner: Charles E. Joseph
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 21, 1987, 23 hours before
- Departed: PBI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Destination: MYAM, MARSH HARBOUR, OF

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 16,740 total, 165 in this make and model, 12,500 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ZFB

## 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 19870527065049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870527065049A), May 27, 1987: Cessna 402C, West Palm Beach, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft failed to arrive at the planned destination. Suspect pilot engaged autopilot and flew out to sea.

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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