Piper PA-22-150 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, August 10, 1990
On August 10, 1990 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N6946D, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE IS MISSING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1990 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6946D · no longer on the register · serial 22-4874
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, ENROUTE TO FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMAS, WITH 3 PASSENGERS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ARRIVE AT DESTINATION AIRPORT. A 2 DAY SEARCH WAS INITIATED BY US COAST GUARD, AND TERMINATED WITH NEGATIVE SIGHTINGS. A BODY WAS RECOVERED BY THE US NAVY 9 DAYS LATER, OFF THE COAST OF VIRGINIA, AND IDENTIFIED BY A MEDICAL EXAMINER, FROM DENTAL RECORDS, AS A PASSENGER FROM THE MISSING AIRPLANE. NO WRECKAGE WAS SIGHTED. THE REMAINING PERSONNEL ARE MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNDETERMINED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1990; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X-26 Sebastian FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MYGF Freeport OF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from VRB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.