- 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.
On this page
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.
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.