N25626

On August 18, 1998, at an undetermined time, a Piper PA-28-181, N25626, was reported missing and is assumed destroyed, while over the Caribbean Sea. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Weather data recovered during the initial search efforts disclosed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the possible time of the accident. The private pilot and the three passengers are all presumed fatal. According to the fixed base operator, where the airplane was rented, the occupants were British, South African, and Austrian, citizens. According to Customs officials, the flight departed Matthew Town, in the Bahama Islands, at 1023.

According to the fixed base operator, the pilot rented the airplane on August 7, 1998 for a trip to the Grand Bahama Island. The pilot and his friends were scheduled to return to Titusville, Florida, on August 24, 1998. When the airplane did not arrive as scheduled, the owner became concerned and began to inquire. Upon establishing contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, the fixed base operator learned that, on August 19, 1998, the U.S. Coast Guard had initiated a sea search for N25626.

The search efforts were based upon an overdue airplane report from the air traffic authorities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They reported that N25626 never arrived at the destination airport in Kingston, Jamaica. According to the air traffic authorities in Port-au-Prince, at 1248, the pilot reported their position at Benet intersection, which is 15 miles from the western tip of the south claw of Haiti. The pilot was instructed to contact Norman Manley Tower in Kingston. No further radio contact was received from N25626.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a two-day air and sea search for the missing airplane. In addition to the air and sea efforts, the Government of Cuba was asked for assistance. Ramp checks were conducted at several airports along the intended route of flight. These efforts failed to locate the airplane. No aircraft wreckage debris was found on the sea (see attached U.S Coast Guard communication and search report).

There were satellite weather images taken at the approximate time N25626 checked in with Port-au Prince, and in the vicinity of Benet Intersection. A review of the weather data revealed cloud cover over Benet intersection and the possibility of convective activity.

A review of flight performance data for the Piper PA28-181 disclosed that the total distance between the last departure point and the destination airport is approximately 254 nautical miles. According to the performance charts for the Piper PA-28-181, at 75% cruise power the airplane has a range of 500 to 590 miles.

The fixed base operator stated that the pilot was not authorized to fly the airplane beyond the Grand Bahama Island. There were four life vest placed on the airplane when the flight initially departed Titusville. The fixed base operator also stated that he was not aware of the pilot's intentions to fly to Kingston. However, a friend of the pilot stated that she was aware of the pilot and his friends intention to continue their trip to Kingston.