Incident Overview
A jet airplane departed on a repositioning flight. During level cruise at an altitude of 39,000 feet mean sea level, the pilot became unresponsive to air traffic controllers. The aircraft continued flying for over 300 miles beyond its intended destination airport before descending and impacting the Atlantic Ocean.
Investigation Findings
Neither the pilot nor the airplane were recovered following the accident. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the airplane's impact with water based on the available information. The official probable cause is listed as "Impact with water for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information."
Flight Details
The flight was a repositioning operation conducted by the airline transport pilot. The airplane was in level cruise flight when the pilot lost communication with air traffic control. Despite attempts to contact the pilot, no response was received. The airplane deviated from its planned route and continued on a southeasterly trajectory over the ocean until it ultimately descended.
Subsequent Actions
Search and recovery efforts did not locate the pilot or the aircraft wreckage. The investigation relied on radar data and communications logs, but insufficient evidence existed to establish a definitive cause for the descent and impact.