Primary finding
Probable cause
undetermined.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to a friend, the owner/pilot went on a whale watching/spotting flight, and when the aircraft failed to return by a scheduled time, a search was initiated. The aircraft was determined to have landed at Santa Catalina Island. Radar data was obtained for the approximate time of departure. A VFR transponder code, assumed to be the accident aircraft, was tracked after departure from the island. At 1519:19 radar contact was lost over the water. A search by the Coast Guard was unsuccessful. The aircraft was presumed to have crashed in ocean waters near Avalon, CA; pilot injury was presumed to have been fatal.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 11, 1997, about 1520 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8436X, is presumed to have crashed into the Pacific Ocean while on a whale watching excursion. The pilot is presumed to have been fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. When the aircraft failed to return to the home base by 1500, a concerned party notified authorities. After determining that the aircraft had landed at Catalina Airport, Avalon, California, radar data was obtained. The approximate departure time was obtained from the unicom radio operator at Avalon. A transponder code of 1200 was tracked after departure from Avalon. The last recorded radar contact was at 1519:19 in the area of the Oceanside VOR on the 263 degree radial about 24.8 miles. A search of the area between Avalon and the coastline by the U.S. Coast Guard had negative results. -