Cessna 172B accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO
On September 23, 2012, a Cessna 172B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 23, 2012
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.635°N, 72.861°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120925X95448
Official records · ERA12LA578
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 23, 2012, about 0430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N8059X, was substantially damaged following impact with the Atlantic Ocean. The certificated commercial pilot was not found and presumed fatally injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from Herlong Recreational Airport (HEG), Jacksonville, Florida, about 0242. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to information provided by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the pilot was reported missing by a clergyman on September 25, 2012. According to the clergyman, he had last spoken with the pilot about two days before the accident flight, and during the conversation the pilot confided difficulties he was undergoing in his personal life. The pilot also joked during the conversation, “I should just fly my plane into the ocean.” During a subsequent investigation by the Sheriff’s Office it was revealed that the pilot’s airplane was also missing, and his vehicle was parked in the airplane’s hangar at HEG. Review of electronic access records at showed that the pilot last entered the airport on September 23 at 0204. Additionally, upon searching the pilot’s vehicle, the officers discovered a hand-written suicide note that was dated September 23, 2012 at 0225. Radar information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Jacksonville Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), showed a primary radar target with no associated transponder beacon departing t
Probable cause
The pilot’s suicidal act.
More accidents in AO
- Beech 200, Jan 19, 2008
- Cessna 210K, Aug 19, 2011
- Boeing 737-200, Jun 28, 2007
- Piper PA31T, Oct 25, 2018
- Piper PA-23-250, Apr 21, 2007
Browse: United States · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
