Departure and Last Contact
The flight departed Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) at about 1520 eastern standard time. The pilot had requested the airplane be taken from its hangar and subsequently taxied for takeoff. Air traffic control cleared the flight for takeoff from runway 7 with a left turn to the west at 1517. At 1520, the flight was approved for a frequency change, after which no further communications were received. Radar showed the aircraft climbing to 9,900 feet and proceeding westbound over the Gulf of Mexico. The last radar target was recorded at 1616:35 at an altitude of 9,900 feet, ground speed 167 knots, about 150 miles west-southwest of SPG. Radar contact was lost at that time.
Search Efforts
The pilot's wife learned of the disappearance on December 17, 2009, and the aircraft was reported overdue to the U.S. Coast Guard at 1711. Search and rescue personnel conducted three sorties covering 1,890 square miles over 13 hours without results. As of the report date (November 22, 2010), the airplane had not been located and was presumed destroyed. The pilot's condition remained unknown.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, serial number 2402, manufactured in 2007 and issued a standard airworthiness certificate on March 13, 2007. It was a four-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane constructed primarily of composite materials, powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N 310-horsepower engine. The airplane was purchased new by the pilot through a limited liability company on March 15, 2007. Maintenance records showed the most recent annual inspection was completed on March 25, 2009, at about 400 hours total time. An oil change was performed on August 8, 2009, at 470.4 hours. The pilot had flown about 100 hours since the annual inspection. Last known refueling was on November 20, 2009, when 19.4 gallons of 100LL avgas was added at SPG; the family believed the airplane was not flown between then and the accident flight.
The 50-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He reported 410 hours total time on his most recent FAA medical application (June 23, 2008). However, his logbook showed the most recent entry dated November 20, 2009, indicating about 700 hours total flight experience, including about 520 hours in the accident airplane. He had logged approximately 1.4 hours in the preceding 30 days and 14.7 hours in the 90 days preceding the flight.
Circumstances Leading to Flight
The pilot, a retired doctor, had lunch at home about 1130 on December 15 and had a scheduled meeting with a business partner. His wife was unaware of any flying plans. She later learned he did not attend the meeting, and after he failed to return home, she contacted local police. Witnesses at the airport noted the pilot appeared and sounded normal.