Vanished in the Skies: The Unsolved Disappearance of Robert Douglas Sparks

A Routine Flight Turns Mysterious

On November 19, 1972, Robert Douglas Sparks, a 45-year-old retired Air Force officer and private pilot, embarked on what was supposed to be a routine aerial photography flight from McAllen, Texas. Hired by a man named Lonnie D. Shaw, Sparks rented a 1970 Piper Cherokee 235 from Upper Valley Aviation. The plan was to fly around the lower Rio Grande Valley for a couple of hours while Shaw took photographs. However, the flight took an unexpected turn when Sparks contacted the Federal Aviation Administration at 1:50 PM, stating they were en route to Tampico, Mexico—a destination for which Sparks lacked the necessary entry papers. Eight minutes later, he reiterated this message, after which all radio communication ceased. Neither Sparks, Shaw, nor the aircraft were ever seen again. 

The Man Behind the Controls

Robert Sparks was not just any pilot; he was a seasoned aviator with a distinguished military background. Standing at 5'10" and weighing 168 pounds, Sparks had brown eyes and short brown hair, with a notable large scar on his right leg. Known affectionately as "Bob," he was a family man, leaving behind a wife and four children. His commitment to aviation was evident, as he had scheduled a flight instruction session for later that same day—a session he never showed up for, raising immediate concerns about his sudden disappearance. ...Read More

Share

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment