# NTSB MIA95FAMS1: Piper PA-28-161, N5916V, Missing, FL, December 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: December 25, 1994, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Missing, FL - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95FAMS1 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95FAMS1 ## Probable cause UNDETERMINED. ## 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 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5916V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5916V-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 28-7716216, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7716216 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Boca Airport, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 18, 1994 - Departed: BCT, BOCA RATON, FL - Destination: BCT, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial, foreign, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 504 total, 275 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PMP ## 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 19941225048749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941225048749A), Dec 25, 1994: Piper PA28161, Boca Raton, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed with full tanks for purported local flight. Not heard, seen or found. Beleived destroyed and a fatality. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.