Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: , A MOONEY M20J, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, CRASHED INTO

Report Date: 09/17

Plane Crash Problem: On September 14, 2003, about 1323 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registered to a private individual, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, after the pilot reported medical difficulties in-flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was presumed to be destroyed and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was presumed to be fatally injured. The flight originated about 1250 from the Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA), West Palm Beach, Florida. According to preliminary air traffic control information, the pilot requested clearance to the St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida, and was cleared for takeoff at 1250. After takeoff at 1301, radar services with the Palm Beach Approach Control facility were terminated when the flight was south of the Witham Field Airport, Stuart, Florida. The airplane continued in a northerly direction flying past the Witham Field Airport, and at 1311, the pilot came back on the Palm Beach Approach Control frequency and advised the controller that the flight was returning due to an unspecified problem. The controller questioned if the pilot needed assistance and he responded that he had a severe headache at the base of his neck. The controller again asked if he needed assistance and the pilot responded no. The flight continued and the pilot was advised 2 times that the Witham Field Airport was closer. The pilot advised the controller that he would stay over the water to avoid the "bumps." At 1314, the pilot advised the controller that his defibrillator went off. Approximately 1 minute later, the pilot declared "mayday", and reported losing his eyesight, and was heading east. The controller advised the pilot to proceed to the PBIA, and the pilot responded that he wanted to stay out of their way, and didn't want to take anybody out. The last recorded transmission from the pilot was at 1315:58. Preliminary review of radar data revealed that at the last recorded transmission from the pilot, the airplane was flying at 1,400 feet mean sea level (msl). At 1320:27, the airplane was flying at 4,200 feet msl, and at 1322:26, (the last radar contact), the airplane was at 400 feet msl. The last radar contact was located at 27 degrees 01 minute 03.48 seconds north latitude and 079 degrees 52 minutes 15.27 seconds west longitude. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the accident site area, and spotted a debris field at 1453; the debris field was located at 27 degrees 05 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 079 degrees 53 minutes 12 seconds west longitude. The depth of water at that location was reported to be 500 feet. Only a plastic bag with paper contents was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

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