Disappearance
On June 8, 2012, at approximately 1307 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, registration N174BH, departed from South St Paul Municipal Airport–Richard E Fleming Field (SGS) in South St Paul, Minnesota. The flight was a maintenance test flight following the replacement of one of its two engines. The pilot planned to fly for about 4 hours to break in the engine. The aircraft did not return and was reported overdue. The airplane was registered to Family Celebrations LLC and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed.
Radar Track and Search
The last known contact with the aircraft occurred around 1300, when a fixed‑base operator towed it to the fuel pumps. About 15 minutes later, the airplane was gone. Radar track data showed the aircraft departed SGS at 1307, maneuvered east of the airport, then turned north toward Duluth, Minnesota. It followed the west shoreline of Lake Superior at a pressure altitude of 2,800 feet. The aircraft continued north, flying over the water about 0.5 miles from shore. As it approached Two Harbors, Minnesota, it descended. The last recorded position at 1427 was approximately 30 miles northeast of Duluth at an uncorrected pressure altitude of 1,600 feet.
An alert notification was issued around 2225. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center coordinated search efforts involving the Civil Air Patrol, United States Coast Guard, and other entities. Searches were suspended on July 4, 2012. The airplane is missing and presumed to have crashed; the airline transport pilot has not been located.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be undetermined because the airplane was not found.