Rudder And Right Horizontal Stabilizer Were Located By The U.S. Coast Guard on March 4, 2022

Location: Big Pine Key, FL Accident Number: ERA22LA142
Date & Time: February 27, 2022, 09:58 Local Registration: 123RR
Aircraft: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On February 27, 2022, about 0958 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-12IS, N123RR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Florida Bay, about 20 miles northwest of Big Pine Key, Florida. The sport pilot and passenger have not been located. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane was reported overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration on February 28, 2022, after the pilot did not report to work. The rudder and right horizontal stabilizer were located by the U.S. Coast Guard on March 4, 2022. As of the publication of this report, no other sections of the airplane have been located; however, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission planned an additional search. 

The pilot was not in radio contact with air traffic control at the time of the accident. Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane was in the vicinity of moderate precipitation at the end of the data.

According to a friend, the pilot usually received weather briefings via a ForeFlight app on his phone.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov