Convair 240 N55VM is still in the database. This is a famous plane that crashed in 1977 killing Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, as well as a guitarist, back up female singer and tour manager plus the pilot and co pilot. The other members of the group survived with injuries, some serious.
I was wondering why this is still kept in the database. Do they not reissue N numbers of aircraft that crashed?
Acutally this problem seems to be quite common in FAA's registry database.
Check out N234MM ! Plane hasn't flow a single hour in what, 30 years?
FYI - It's Walt Disney's aircraft that he flew while still alive. The "MM", of course, stands for Mickey Mouse!
N234MM is actually sitting on a backlot in the MGM studios at Disney World. I seen it when I took the studio tour a couple years back
Using Google Earth, there looks like two aircraft are parked around
28 21'23.71N 81 33'44.47W
N234MM's current status is valid in the FAA data base, with last action taken 2007-02-20. The aircraft is apparently maintained and passed current annual.
Just added "current status" info to aircraft profile page. Turned out N55VM's status is Revoked.
When you query N55VM on the FAA website you get:
ATTENTION!
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for additional information.
Michael, that wins official understatement by a government agency of the month.
