Overview
- A privately owned Piper PA-30/PA-39 twin-engine plane went into the Atlantic about two miles east of Boca Raton Airport after the pilot declared an emergency on Saturday morning.
- The sole occupant, 23-year-old Faith Tenkley, exited the aircraft, was reached by a lifeguard and rescue crews, and was taken to a hospital as a precaution with no serious injuries reported.
- Tenkley told local media she had a landing-gear malfunction and then lost the right engine, and she elected to ditch in open water rather than attempt a runway landing with a heavy fuel load.
- Boca Raton Ocean Rescue, local fire and police units and the U.S. Coast Guard responded on scene and the FAA led recovery efforts that moved the wreckage to Silver Palm Park for disassembly and examination.
- The aircraft is registered to USOARFlorida LLC and was built in the 1960s–1970s; investigators will examine the recovered wreckage and maintenance records as the FAA continues its probe and officials have released no final cause.