What happened
Following departure, the pilot attempted to obtain clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) for a transition flight through Class 'B' airspace at 1,000 feet. After being presented with a clearance, the pilot declined the instruction and elected to cancel the request and return to the airport.
At the time of the incident, it was a dark night with weather conditions described as marginal VFR at times, and fog was reported in the area. Radar data showed an aircraft maneuvering over the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity before disappearing from radar at 21:23:56. Prior to its disappearance, the aircraft performed several altitude changes, including descents with a peak vertical velocity of 7,000 feet per minute (fpm), followed by a climb of approximately 5,000 fpm and another descent of 4,000 fpm.
A search of the waters off the south shore of Long Island, NY, and the associated Alert Notice (ALNOT) were both cancelled on December 22, 1993. In the weeks following the accident, aircraft debris washed up on the beach, including a piece of wreckage bearing the registration N201TX.
Findings
The pilot involved was a student pilot who was not qualified for solo flight in this aircraft type, nor were they qualified for night flying or carrying passengers.