MIA95FAMS1

The pilot signed the pilot authorization form to rent the airplane on December 25, 1994, about 1325. Before departure both wing fuel tanks were filled at the request of the Missing pilot. The time of departure has not been determined and there was no evidence of contact with any FAA ATC facility. A witness reported seeing a low wing airplane about 1800 local 300-500 feet above ground level flying westbound. He reported that the engine was sputtering when the airplane flew over his house. The Missing airplane did not return to the departure airport. VMC conditions existed in the area at the time of departure. The airplane was flown on a flight before the Missing flight and the pilot reported that the engine and airplane operated normally. The only discrepancy noted was that the no. 1 communication radio was inoperative.

History of flight

On December 25, 1994, a Piper PA-28-161, N5916V, registered to the Boca Airport, Inc., dba Boca Aviation, failed to return to the Boca Raton Airport, Boca Raton, Florida, after a 14 CFR Part 91 personal rental flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport about the presumed time of departure and no flight plan was filed. The airplane and pilot have not been located; therefore, the airplane is presumed to be destroyed and the pilot is presumed to be fatally injured. The time of departure from the Boca Raton Airport, Boca Raton, Florida, on December 25, 1994, has not been determined.

The pilot rented the airplane about 1325 on December 25, 1994, for a presumed local flight and before departure, both fuel tanks were filled at the request of the missing pilot. There were no witnesses that observed the missing airplane depart. On December 26, 1994, about 0800, the operator noted that the airplane was not on the ramp and questioned the pilot's wife. The Miami Automated International Flight Service Station (AIFSS) was notified by the operator on December 26, 1994, about 1345. An Alert Notice (ALNOT) for the missing airplane and pilot was issued about 1348. According to the Miami AIFSS, there was no flight plan or weather briefing for the missing flight. There was no evidence of radio contact with any FAA ATC facility from the missing airplane.

An individual who has pilot experience stated that he lives in West Boca Raton, Florida, and on December 25, 1994, he was outside his house after 1800. He observed a low wing airplane flying about 300-500 feet above ground level over his house westbound. During that time, the engine was sputtering and he observed that the navigation lights were illuminated.

Personnel information

Information pertaining to the pilot is contained in the NTSB Factual Report-Aviation.

Aircraft information

Information pertaining to the airplane is contained in the NTSB Factual Report-Aviation. Additionally, the missing airplane was flown earlier in the day on a flight which lasted about 50 minutes. According to the pilot of that flight, the engine operated normally. He did state that the No. 1 communication radio was inoperative. The tachometer and Hobbs meter indicated about 3558 and 5.7 respectively at the start of the presumed missing flight.

Meteorological information

Information pertaining to the weather is contained in the NTSB Factual Report-Aviation.

Communications

There was no record of any contact with any FAA ATC facility.

Wreckage and impact

The airplane has not been located.

Additional information

According to the pilot's wife, her husband told her he was going to the airport to fill out paperwork but did not mention that he was going flying.

The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at the Langley Air Force Base was notified by the ALNOT on December 26, 1994, about 1406 est. A mission number was assigned at 1500 eastern standard time, authorizing the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to initiate a search for the missing airplane and pilot. The CAP initiated the search on December 26, 1994, about 1545. The AFRCC suspended the mission on January 2, 1995, about 1103.