[MilCom] Navy T-39 missing

[Mike Riffle]

complete article is located at
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/NEWS01/601110334/1006

"A search was to continue today for four aviators and their Navy T-39 
Sabreliner after they failed to return to Pensacola Naval Air Station at the 
scheduled time Tuesday afternoon, Navy officials said.

The Sabreliner is attached to Training Squadron 86 and had a crew of four, 
including a civilian contract pilot, a Navy instructor, a Navy student and 
an Air Force student, said Lt., j.g. Sean Robertson, Navy South Region 
public affairs officer.

The T-39 took off from Chattanooga, Tenn., about 11 a.m. and was scheduled 
to fly a navigation training mission, arriving at Pensacola Naval Air 
Station about 3 p.m., Robertson said. The last radio contact occurred at 
11:20 a.m. when the pilot contacted the national center.

"All we know is the aircraft made contact, and we haven't heard anything 
since," Robertson said.

The Navy is withholding identities of the air crew under Department of 
Defense policy.

Navy officials would not disclose where the search was being conducted late 
Tuesday or if the aircraft carried distress or locator beacons. Robertson 
also would not disclose what route the T-39 took.

The Coast Guard station in Mobile, which would conduct searches if an 
aircraft were reported missing over the Gulf, was not asked to search on 
Tuesday, said Steve Lewallen, a civilian who works at the Coast Guard 
operations in Mobile."

I tried posting the following info last night but it bounced...

0315z
KING 16 (HC-130 71RQS) has advised Atlanta app/dep control on 125.5 that
he is enroute to the area around point Charlie on VR-1055 to search for a
missing aircraft. ATC pushed KING to 119.8 where I have lost him. Last
heard descending to 6000 ft. KING was also calling any radio on 255.4.

map of VR-1055: http://www.geocities.com/kc8mzm/graphics/vr1055.jpg

Mike Riffle
Cataula, GA