History of Flight
On March 1, 2012, about 1102 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182P, N1338S, registered to Akro Attitudes, Inc., went missing and is presumed to be substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight from Willis Gliderport (FA44), Boynton Beach, Florida. The pilot, a 56-year-old private pilot, is missing and presumed to be fatally injured. The flight is presumed to have originated from FA44 about 1039.
On March 6, the airplane owner reported the missing pilot and aircraft to local law enforcement. A search of the pilot's residence revealed his Florida driver's license, FAA pilot and medical certificates, and a wallet in a wastebasket. Prescription medications were found: trazodone, doxepin, clonazepam, pravastatin, and amlodipine besylate. An empty prescription bag for temazepam dated February 29, 2012, was also located, but the pills were missing.
A witness reported seeing the airplane depart FA44, return after about 15 minutes, then depart again to the south. An FAA alert notice (ALNOT) was issued on March 7 and canceled March 8.
Radar and Location Data
Uncorrelated radar data (1200 codes and primary returns) showed a target at 1039 about 0.3 nautical mile from the departure end of runway 09 at FA44. The flight continued southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. The last radar return was at 1102 at 26°17.502' N, 079°39.228' W, about 34 nautical miles from FA44 and 23 nautical miles east-southeast of Boca Raton, Florida.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate with corrective lenses, issued February 9, 2011. He reported 2,000 total flight hours and 100 hours in the previous six months. His last medical application noted no use of prescription or non-prescription medications, no mental disorders, and no visits to a health professional in three years.
According to acquaintances, the pilot had made statements about disappearing over water, "going out with a bang," and had seemed depressed. The airplane owner reported the pilot had mentioned "ending it" about a year earlier but recanted.
Aircraft Information
The 1976 Cessna 182P (serial number 18264901) was powered by a 230 hp Continental O-470-S engine with a McCauley constant-speed propeller. Modifications included a Robertson flap system, automotive fuel STC, and S-TEC 30 autopilot. The owner reported last flying the airplane on February 28, 2012, from FA44 to River Oak Airport and back, adding 40 gallons of fuel before departure. After the 80-minute flight, about 25 to 30 gallons remained. The aircraft performed flawlessly, and no additional fuel was taken from the portable tank.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather at Palm Beach International Airport at 1130 reported wind from 140° at 12 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 2,800, 3,800, and 5,000 feet. Temperature and dew point were 26°C and 20°C. No AIRMETs were active. Satellite imagery showed fair-weather cloud tops between 1,000 and 2,000 feet near the last radar position. Rawinsonde data indicated light winds below 12 knots up to 18,000 feet. No weather radar echoes were observed at the aircraft's final position.
Wreckage and Pathological Information
No wreckage or pilot remains have been located or recovered.