NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 21, 2003, at approximately 1235 mountain daylight time, a Beech F33A, N927JL, dropped from radar just west of Mt. Baldy, near Greer, Arizona. The airplane was never found; the airplane is presumed destroyed. The instrument rated commercial pilot and his passenger are presumed to be fatally injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight that originated from Mesa, Arizona, approximately 1 hour before disappearing from radar and voice communication. The pilot was flight following at the time of the accident; family members said that the airplane was en route to Dallas, Texas, and the pilot was to continue on to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Family members and friends of the pilot said that the pilot had departed the southern California area. They said that he had landed at Mesa, Arizona, to refuel, and had departed at approximately 1130 MDT. Radar data from Phoenix ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center), last recorded the airplane at: N33 degrees, 42', 06.1"; W110 degrees, 39', 11.8". The aircraft was at 7,600 feet, and traveling at 142 knots ground speed. The pilot did talk with the ARTCC control approximately 3 minutes after the last radar return, and he was told to contact Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) over St John, Arizona (the next radar sector was Albuquerque, New Mexico). The last recorded radar data indicates that the airplane was flying into rising mountainous terrain, with elevations topping at 11,250 feet.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical records indicate that the pilot had a third class medical, and his last physical examination was on April 5, 2002. The pilot had applied for new aircraft insurance policy on June 25, 2003, and on that, he reported that he had 10,300 hours of flight experience, with over 9,000 hours in make and model. On that application, the pilot said that he flies an estimated 300 hours per year. FAA records indicate that the pilot purchased the airplane in December 1980.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, five seat airplane, which was manufactured by Beechcraft, in 1971. The airplane had a maximum takeoff gross weight of 3,400 pounds. It was powered by a Continental IO-520, reciprocating, normally-aspirated, fuel injected, direct-drive, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed, six-cylinder engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 285 horsepower at sea level. The pilot's fiancée said that the last annual inspection was performed during April 2003.

The airplane received a zero time engine on June 1, 1996. This engine received a top overhaul on December 17, 2002.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Civil Air Patrol units of New Mexico and Arizona flew extensive searches for the missing aircraft; the airplane was never found. The search was suspended on October 18, 2003.

NTSB Probable Cause

The airplane is missing for unknown reason.