FLYING Magazine
Authorities are searching for the occupants of a Piper Seneca that went down off the Bahamas on Monday afternoon. Officials reported Tuesday that a body had recovered, but no details were given.
Those on board the aircraft have been identified as four members of the same family.
Mario Lamar, 80, was the pilot, and his wife, Lily Lamar, 79, their grandchildren, Christian Sosa, 22, and Sophie Sosa, 28, accompanied him on the flight. Family members told authorities that Mario Lamar is a seasoned pilot with more than 40 years of experience. The family has a vacation home in the Bahamas and often flew the route between the islands and Miami.
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According to authorities, N212ML, a twin-engine aircraft, took off from Great Harbour Cay Airport (MYBG) in the Berry Islands on Monday at approximately 11:12 a.m. local time bound for Miami Executive Airport (KTMB).
According to FlightAware, the filed IFR flight plan indicates an airspeed of 173 mph and an altitude of 8,000 feet. The route put the distance as 262 miles as the pilot filed to FOWEE.FOWEE2, a Standard Terminal Arrival Route used to get into airports in the Miami region.
Air traffic control reported losing contact with the airplane when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island.
Graphical data obtained from FlightAware shows the aircraft’s speed fluctuating as it climbed to 10,000 feet then entering a steep descent. Radar contact was lost at 3,700 feet. A review of the aircraft’s track on FlightAware shows a circle then an abrupt termination of the flight.
The U.S. Coast Guard, using an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, is assisting the Royal Bahamas Defense Force with the search.
FLYING has reached out to both entities but inquiries were not returned as of publication time.