Casualties unknown

1994-01-18: Piper PA-28-180 (N56811) — Four Winds Aviation, Inc. — Borrego Springs, CA

Borrego Springs, CA, US

On January 18, 1994, a Piper PA-28-180 (registration N56811) operated by Four Winds Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Borrego Springs, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL DECISION TO ABANDON THE AIRPLANE AND ALLOW IT TO FLY UNATTENDED. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported fuel pressure issues and squawked code 7700 before vanishing from radar. Ground witnesses saw a parachute, and the pilot's body was recovered weeks later.

What happened

The pilot transmitted a distress call reporting that the airplane was experiencing fuel pressure problems. At the time of the transmission, the aircraft was squawking transponder code 7700, indicating an emergency situation. Shortly after this communication, the airplane disappeared from radar coverage.

Prior to the incident, the pilot had left a message on a telephone answering machine for his wife stating that he did not want to live anymore. Ground witnesses in the area observed a man parachuting from an airplane at approximately the same time as the accident occurred.

The pilot's body was eventually located and recovered on December 21, 1994.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00643. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.