Cessna 172S N191TG

Summary

On 8 May 2015 at about 09:43 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N191TG, operated by William McAdams, was involved in an accident near Davenport, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 2015 at 09:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Davenport, California, United States

Coordinates

37.0896, -122.2392

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N191TG

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

William McAdams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR15FAMS1

1 person died.

Undetermined because the airplane was not located.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot departed the airport in the middle of the night for an unknown destination. Later that day, a representative of the operator reported that the pilot and airplane were missing. The representative reported that the missing pilot was a contract flight instructor for the operator; however, the accident flight was not authorized, and local law enforcement officials later classified the airplane as stolen. Recorded radar data attributed to the airplane showed a radar track west to the Pacific Ocean, then south along the California coastline. The last transponder return was recorded over the water about 5 miles west of the shoreline at an altitude of 800 ft above sea level. Primary targets consistent with the airplane's flight were recorded heading southwest over the ocean until no longer visible on radar. A sea search for the missing airplane and ramp checks at several airports along the apparent route of flight were conducted; however, no wreckage was found. The airplane and pilot remain missing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.