A private plane linked to Scripps Research Institute CEO Peter Schultz has vanished over the Pacific Ocean, triggering a federal investigation. The single-engine 2014 Cessna T240 Corvalis TTx, piloted by a friend of Schultz, lost contact just moments before it was scheduled to land in San Diego. The aircraft continued off-course and is now presumed to have crashed roughly 470 miles offshore. With no signs of debris or survivors, the incident has drawn sharp attention. The National Transportation Safety Board is probing the mystery behind the silent flight’s deadly turn.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Cessna aircraft owned by Scripps CEO Peter Schultz disappears over Pacific

• Pilot, a friend of Schultz, went unresponsive before missing final approach

• Plane cleared to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Airport, but continued flying west

• Last known location was 470 miles off San Diego coast

• No wreckage or survivors found as of Thursday

• NTSB confirms active investigation into the incident

A small private aircraft connected to the CEO of the Scripps Research Institute, Peter Schultz, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean this week, prompting a federal investigation. The missing aircraft, a 2014 Cessna T240 Corvalis TTx, was reportedly being piloted by a close associate of Schultz. Authorities believe the pilot may have been unresponsive in the critical moments before the aircraft veered off its expected course and vanished.

The aircraft departed Ramona Airport on Sunday afternoon and was headed for San Diego’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, a route typically under an hour by air. Around 1:55 p.m., the pilot made contact with the airport’s control tower in preparation for landing. Controllers granted him clearance to approach runway 28R. But just minutes later, the pilot went silent.

According to data gathered by the Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft failed to descend toward the designated runway and instead maintained an altitude of roughly 2,600 feet, flying westward. It continued past its intended destination until it was no longer traceable, presumed to have impacted the Pacific Ocean approximately 470 miles off the coast of San Diego.

No debris or physical remains of the aircraft have been found as of Thursday, and no survivors have been reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s disappearance. The exact cause of the incident remains unknown.

“The aircraft was piloted by a friend of Dr. Peter Schultz and is believed to have had only one occupant,” the Scripps Research Institute said in a brief statement released to the press. “We are deeply concerned and await further information as authorities investigate the matter.”

The identity of the pilot has not been publicly disclosed, pending notification of next of kin. Aviation authorities and emergency responders continue to monitor the area where the aircraft is believed to have gone down, although the remote location significantly complicates search efforts.

Aviation experts note that unresponsive pilot incidents, though rare, are not unheard of. Possible contributing factors range from sudden medical emergencies to technical malfunctions in cabin pressurization.

“There are still many unanswered questions,” an NTSB spokesperson said. “We’re examining air traffic control recordings, radar data, and any other available evidence to determine what exactly occurred during the flight.”

While no direct statement has been made by Schultz himself, those familiar with the case say he is cooperating with investigators. The scientific community has expressed concern and sympathy as the situation unfolds.

As authorities continue to search for answers, the disappearance of the aircraft has left behind a trail of silence, speculation, and sorrow. With no trace of wreckage and no confirmed survivor, the flight’s abrupt and unexplained deviation has stirred both concern and curiosity. As the National Transportation Safety Board deepens its probe, the aviation world watches closely—seeking clarity on a flight that began routinely but ended in mystery over open waters.

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