On December 15, 2009, at 1616 eastern standard time, radar contact was lost with a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N723LJ, while in cruise flight over the Gulf of Mexico. As of January 10, 2010, the airplane or pilot had not been located. The airplane was presumed destroyed and the certificated private pilot was presumed killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that departed Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida, about 1520. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
I’m guessing someone probably thought about that, Will.
Doing a search for an aircraft, any aircraft, is quite complex. You have to account for assumed point of impact, ocean currents, correct for drift, etc… A Cirrus hitting the water with any force whatsoever probably wouldn’t leave too much debris floating on the surface.
I vaguely remember hearing of a pilot doing just that… I’ll post the NTSB report if I can find it. Apprently the pilot parachuted out over a remote town where he stowed a motorcycle and made a run for it. The plot was foiled when the military intercept was called after prolonged radio silence with ATC when IFR. They reported seeing the cabin door ajar with no pilot!
That’s what Frank was getting at. There’s been other threads on here about that guy - his story is pretty well known. I think he just went to trial - Marcus Shrenker is his name.
