3 days of searching and they just stop like that?

a bit fishy...

how much of our tax dollars you want to spend looking for two stiffs ....do you know what AV gas costs ? ...........................My sympathies to the family

I just got into Higuero airport today, flew from PR we observed several choppers in the canal area. But a Citation pilot was saying that a night take off south bound out of Las Americas, makes you gets you disorineted. (spatial) and the plane did not really have a battery problem but an alternator problem. so not artificial horizon. It must have hit like a rock, into the water.

To ABR23 FROM PR
How was it determined the plane had alternator problem instead of battery problem, If the plane was not even found yet?
I would say all radios are equiped with battery back up in case of an S.O.S. aside of the starting
battery which you are refering to.

They had to boost/jump start the plane, to start it at SDQ. When it departed the lights were flicekring. He had called home and reported battery trouble, before leaving.
If the alternator was good it would have carried the electrical load, once started.

The battery back up is only good for a set time like a UPS, he flew to DR from PR with the problem so there goes your back-up.

It could have been something else, hard attack, etc. but that would be more speculative.

If he took off into the dark ocean at night, and lost his bearings as to his attitude, he or anyone would be in deep trouble. He would try to turn and get his bearings in relation to the ground. Trying to see lights the coast anything.

ABR23:
What you said makes sence as far as the alternator carrying the electric load once started, but the
distance from PR to DR is only 40 miles and once the plane is above 15,000 ft it could see both IS
and does not need navegating instruments. S.O.S. would have given the USCG a fix as to where the plane was in the MONA PASSAGE.

Las Americas to the edge of PR Aguadilla and Mayaguez is more like 180 miles. The problem is a pilot either looks out or looks in (panel) he left at 8:30 PM there was nothing on his instruments and nothing as reference outside. Since the ocean take off is blackout can not say were sky / ocean end/meet.
The average climb for a jet is maybe 2,000 feet per minute. 3 minutes makes it maybe 6,000 feet.
Maximum speed below 10,000 feet for all aircraft is 200 kts = 250mph
So he never got that high or that far.

.

I knew Mr Fernandez thru business. While I only knew him thru phone conversations (we never met in person) he was always very kind, honest and respectful. Qualities that unfortunately are rare these days. The world is a lesser place without him. Please keep your comments respectful and remember there are many that grieve over this tragic loss. God bless his family and close friends.