Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Cessna 414, N53DJ: Missing Plane is at the Center of a Federal Lawsuit. Accident occurred August 31, 2009 in Unknown, Mexico.

MCALLEN- A plane that went missing two years ago is now at the center of a federal lawsuit.

The accident happened on August 31, 2009 as the plane made it's way to Torreon, MX. Andy Howard was the chief pilot of the aircraft at McCreery Aviation in Mcallen. He hasn't been heard from since.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS caught up with Andy Howard's sister about a week after his disappearance. Liz Howard says her brother flew off course towards San Fernando because of bad weather. She thinks he ran out of gas.

"The air force was tracking the plane because when planes deviate from flight plan it's protocol that they track them. They did see the airplane near San Fernando." Liz says.

The Mexican military, U.S. forces and friends in private planes spent days searching the rugged mexican countryside but came up empty.

The plane was owned by Dunn Aviation,a company out of Georgia. The company is now suing the Valley company that maintained the aircraft. Dunn alleges the McCreery company of breach of bailment contract because he never returned the plane.

Bob McCreery of McCreery Aviation says his insurance company is handling the lawsuit.

NTSB Identification: CEN10WA072
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 31, 2009 in Unknown, Mexico
Aircraft: CESSNA 414, registration: N53DJ
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

On August 31, 2009, a Cessna 414, N53DJ, was reported missing when the airplane did not land at its destination. The airline transport pilot was the only person on-board the airplane. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated by McCreery Aviation Co, Inc, McAllen, Texas. The flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. Approximately 1100 central daylight time, the airplane departed the Torreon International Airport (MMTC), Torreon, Mexico with the intended destination of McAllen International Airport (KMFE), McAllen, Texas.


A search was conducted by both Mexican and American agencies. At the time of publishing, no trace of the airplane has been discovered. The airplane is presumed destroyed and the pilot is presumed fatally injured.

Jurisdiction of the investigation will be determined when the airplane wreckage is discovered.

http://www.krgv.com

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