MIA94FAMS1

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-32-300 · Missing · August 28, 1994

Accident · FatalMissing aircraftFinal report
Date
August 28, 1994, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC)
Place
Missing
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Unknown
Aircraft
N69118Piper PA-32-300
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 5, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940828024469A
Case key
37433

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Undetermined.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Missing aircraftUnknown
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause

Analysis

The private pilot and one passenger departed treasure cay, Bahamas for a planned flight to fort pierce, Florida. The pilot activated his VFR flight plan by radio and never arrived at the destination. The search for the airplane and occupants was negative the damage and injury classification shown in this report are assumed.

Factual narrative

On August 28, 1994, at some time after 1555 eastern daylight time, N69118, a Piper PA-32-300, registered to the pilot, Mr. Terry L. Frahs, was overdue on a VFR flight plan from Treasure Cay, Bahamas, to Fort Pierce, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed and activated by radio. The airplane and the occupants have not been located; therefore, the airplane is presumed to be destroyed and the pilot and passenger are presumed to be fatally injured. The flight originated about 1555 the same day.

Available records and interviews revealed that the pilot had flown to Treasure Cay from Fort Pierce, Florida, earlier in the day after purchasing fuel in Fort Pierce. After takeoff from Treasure Cay, the pilot radioed the FAA IFSS Station in Miami, Florida, and activated his flight plan. No other radio or radar information is available. The flight was determined to be overdue later the same day and extensive ramp searches and telephone searches were initiated with negative results. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted sea searches for 3 days with negative results. The airplane was reported to be equipped with lifevests and a raft.

Aircraft

Registration
N69118
Reported as
Piper PA-32-300
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7340161
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
Unknown
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Frahs, Terry R.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Treasure Cay
Destination
KFPR · Fort Pierce, FL
Flight plan
VFR

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
58
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
1,200 total · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
100° at 5 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
7,000 ft broken
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MIA, 40 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.