What happened
Following its departure from San Juan, the pilot of N405MN, a Cessna 404, established contact with FAA San Juan Approach Control. After being identified on radar, the pilot was instructed to climb to 7,000 feet. Shortly after, the controller directed the aircraft to fly directly toward St. Croix. Approximately four minutes later, the pilot requested radar vectors for the destination and was assigned a heading of 140 degrees. Radar records indicate the aircraft reached its assigned cruise altitude of 7,000 feet at approximately 0444.
At roughly 0453:36, the pilot requested a reduction in altitude and was cleared to descend to 2,000 feet. Although the pilot acknowledged this instruction, no subsequent radio communications were recorded. The aircraft began its descent from 7,000 feet at about 0454. Transponder data tracked the aircraft descending through 6,500 feet, 5,600 feet, and 4,000 feet in rapid succession. The final altitude recorded by the transponder was 1,100 feet at 0454:53, after which the aircraft disappeared from radar surveillance. No other aircraft were detected in the vicinity during this period.
In the days following the disappearance, various pieces of wreckage were found floating in the ocean north of the final radar contact point. Recovered items included a main landing gear tire, wheel, and brake assembly, as well as portions of the left wing lower skin, the left wing baggage compartment door, and the right nose baggage compartment door. Additionally, the cabin floor cover and several items from the U.S. mail cargo were found. The recovered debris showed signs of separation from the airframe but lacked any evidence of fire, soot, or heat damage. The aircraft was carrying 1,517 pounds of U.S. mail, which contained no hazardous materials. The main wreckage was not located, and the sea depth in the area is approximately 6,000 feet.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a descending flight phase when it disappeared from radar.
- There was no evidence of fire or thermal damage on the recovered wreckage components.