Incident Details
On October 24, 2019, at approximately 2123 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registration N4958J, was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, California. The airplane was operated as a personal cross-country flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger, nor the airplane, have been located.
Witness and Departure
A witness at the Shelter Cove Airport (0Q5) reported observing the airplane depart around 2100. The witness noted that it was completely dark with no visible horizon. After lifting off the runway, the airplane made a left turn.
Flight Path and Track Data
No record of a preflight weather briefing or air traffic services was located, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane did not arrive at its destination, Gnoss Field Airport (DVO) in Novato, California, and was reported overdue by family. The Federal Aviation Administration found no evidence of automated dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) information transmitted from the airplane.
Air traffic control flight track data revealed that the accident airplane first appeared in track data about 2.8 nautical miles southeast of Shelter Cove at approximately 2104, over the ocean. The airplane was at an indicated altitude of about 3,325 ft mean sea level (msl) and was transmitting a beacon code of 1200. The airplane then maneuvered, making a right 360° turn followed by a left 360° turn. It reversed course, conducted a figure-eight turn, and headed south-southeast bound, gradually climbing to about 6,000 ft msl. The aircraft then entered a left descending turn and rapidly lost altitude. The track data indicated that the airplane descended from about 5,800 ft to 2,850 ft msl in the last 24 seconds of recorded track data. The track data was lost about 2123.
Search Efforts
On November 3, 2019, the search for the missing airplane was suspended. No wreckage or debris was located during the search.
Aircraft and Location
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28R-180, registration N4958J. The incident occurred near Shelter Cove, California, over the Pacific Ocean.