CA CA - Hugo Mar, 64, & Cessna 172S Skyhawk, Watsonville Municipal Airport, 26 June 2019

[GraceG]

Why do they assume a crash? How does the FAA determine something like that? Because its still all probable cause, right?

Radar surveillance perhaps? It could be he suddenly brought the plane below the radar, in order not to be detected. But they read that as a crash.

The radar tracked the aircraft as it circled and descended and then it suddenly disappeared from the radar. At the same time it disappeared from radar witnesses saw the navigation lights of an aircraft over the ocean that suddenly plunged and then they heard a big splash. ATC would have noted if there was more than one airplane out in that area at the same time.

 

[GraceG]

Here is the radar summary from the NTSB docket (not complete until the final report is issued). You can see the plane had its last radar return at the same time witnesses reported "a big splash". You can see all the current documents by going to www.ntsb.gov, then clicking under the submenu "investigations" and then "accident dockets" entering in the date of the accident. The instructor statement is telling as to why Mr. Mar wasn't authorized solo in the airplane. My condolences to his family, just providing the info they may not know how to access. https://dms.ntsb.gov/public/64000-64499/64089/637870.pdf

 

[Laughing]

As GraceG said, it is easy to become disoriented over water. The phrase "lose the horizon" is used. The sky is black, the water is black, very hard for a person to only watch the instruments to tell you the plane's position in the air. The messages to your brain from your eyes & your ears conflict.

A well-known example:

Bodies From Kennedy Crash Are Found

You have to trust those instruments on the panel. BTW instruments are tested & inspected & certified regularly, very dependable.

RIP, Mr. Mar, peace & comfort to your family & friends.

 

[Madussa]

Thank you everyone

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

@Madussa , I just ran across this thread by chance. I don't know if you'll ever see this.

My late daddy used to fly a little Cessna similar to the one your dad was flying. I'm so sorry for your loss. I wasn't able to see the reports above (the links have expired), but I'm guessing his medicals were not up to date. My dad flew a lot after he was no longer supposed to due to a heart condition. He used to do some crazy things like "killing" the engine and flying as high as he could before the engine stalled. He was a great guy. I loved him so, so, so very much. No, he didn't die in a crash; he had cancer. Please use the inbox feature above and to the right to contact me if you ever want to chat.

 

[Madussa]

@Madussa , I just ran across this thread by chance. I don't know if you'll ever see this.

My late daddy used to fly a little Cessna similar to the one your dad was flying. I'm so sorry for your loss. I wasn't able to see the reports above (the links have expired), but I'm guessing his medicals were not up to date. My dad flew a lot after he was no longer supposed to due to a heart condition. He used to do some crazy things like "killing" the engine and flying as high as he could before the engine stalled. He was a great guy. I loved him so, so, so very much. No, he didn't die in a crash; he had cancer. Please use the inbox feature above and to the right to contact me if you ever want to chat.

Still no word of his whereabouts . Everyday praying something washes ashore or I get a call . It hurts

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

Still no word of his whereabouts . Everyday praying something washes ashore or I get a call . It hurts

Hugs to you.

 

[GraceG]

@Madussa , I just ran across this thread by chance. I don't know if you'll ever see this.

My late daddy used to fly a little Cessna similar to the one your dad was flying. I'm so sorry for your loss. I wasn't able to see the reports above (the links have expired), but I'm guessing his medicals were not up to date. My dad flew a lot after he was no longer supposed to due to a heart condition. He used to do some crazy things like "killing" the engine and flying as high as he could before the engine stalled. He was a great guy. I loved him so, so, so very much. No, he didn't die in a crash; he had cancer. Please use the inbox feature above and to the right to contact me if you ever want to chat.

He had a current medical from the late Fall of the year before he went missing (info is public knowledge on www.faa.gov) I don't know of any flight school that will let you rent an airplane without a current medical on file. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Dad. He sounds like a good, cheerful soul.