What happened
On 19th August 2023, a Cessna 402B, identified by the registration C6-SPK, departed Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Florida, heading toward North Eleuthera International Airport in the Bahamas. The flight, carrying one person, was expected to return to Florida by early afternoon but failed to reach its destination.
At approximately 12:58 pm local time, air traffic controllers at Fort Lauderdale observed the aircraft performing a rapid descent, dropping from roughly 8,400 feet to 4,500 feet MSL. Shortly after this maneuver, the aircraft disappeared from radar. Following the notification that the flight was overdue, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched, involving the United States Coast Guard, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association. Despite extensive aerial and maritime searches conducted through 21st August 2023, neither the aircraft nor the pilot has been located.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's history, the pilot's credentials, and the prevailing meteorological conditions. Investigators noted that while the aircraft was removed from the Bahamas aircraft registry in July 2022, it appeared to have continued operating under the C6-SPK marks. There was no available documentation regarding the aircraft's maintenance history or its specific state of registry at the time of the disappearance.
Meteorological analysis provided by the NTSB indicated that the region was experiencing significant convective activity. The environment was characterized by potential hazards, including extreme turbulence, icing, and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Findings
- The aircraft was observed in a sudden descent before losing radar contact.
- The meteorological environment contained convective hazards that could have led to an encounter with IMC or severe turbulence.
- The pilot held several advanced FAA certifications, though records showed a previous 1996 emergency revocation of certificates due to regulatory violations.
- No flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder was installed on the aircraft.
- Extensive search efforts across various Bahamian islands and maritime zones yielded no sightings of the wreckage or the pilot.