Synopsis
On 27 July 2008, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registration CS-AUE, operated by Aero Clube de Bragança, departed Bragança Municipal Aerodrome at 07:45 UTC for Coimbra Municipal Aerodrome. The flight was intended to position the aircraft for installation of VHF radio communications equipment. The sole occupant was the pilot. The filed flight plan indicated a 60-minute duration at 8,000 feet (FL080) with four hours of fuel.
Flight Details
After takeoff, the pilot contacted the Flight Information Service (FIS) at 07:49 and was assigned squawk 3316. He was cleared to FL060 and later to FL080. At 07:55, while climbing through 7,500 feet, the pilot was instructed to contact the Lisbon Air Traffic Control (LIS ACC) North sector on 132.3 MHz. He responded, “I am not feeling well!” and acknowledged the frequency change.
First radar contact occurred at 08:09:10 near Vila Real at 7,600 feet. At 08:26:12, the pilot transmitted on 132.3 MHz: “aii! … I feel sick! … aiii! … I feel sick! … aiiii!” The controller initially could not identify the source but later determined it was CS-AUE. Attempts to contact the pilot on the FIS frequency (130.9 MHz) and emergency frequency (121.5 MHz) received no response.
Interception
The aircraft was monitored on radar. It passed Coimbra at 5,900 feet at 08:44 and turned slightly right. At 08:46, the Independent Air Traffic Squadron (EITA) notified the Air Force Operational Command (COFA), which ordered an F-16 interception. Two F-16s departed Monte Real Air Base at 09:07. The first interception occurred at 09:13 at 39°41'39"N / 009°45'00"W, with the aircraft at 5,200 feet, heading 250°, speed 128 knots. The F-16 pilots observed the pilot seated but unresponsive to visual signals and radio calls. In subsequent passes, the pilot was no longer visible.
The F-16s followed until fuel limitations; their last recorded position of CS-AUE was at 10:29: 38°40'18"N / 012°48'37"W. The aircraft continued on a heading of approximately 250° and disappeared from radar at 10:58 at 38°14'38.7"N / 013°56'08.05"W, altitude 5,700 feet, speed 120 knots.
Search Efforts
Search and rescue (SAR) was activated at 09:05. An EH-101 helicopter departed Montijo Air Base at 09:25, a corvette left Alfeite Naval Base at 09:45, a C-212 aircraft departed Porto Santo at 11:45, and a P-3P Orion was also deployed. A second F-16 sortie at 11:53 located debris in the sea at 38°10'15"N / 014°10'29"W, recovered by the cargo ship ALIANCA MAUA, but the debris was not from the missing aircraft. Searches were canceled after the third day, and the pilot and aircraft were declared missing.