John F. Kennedy Jr.'s plane was a Piper Saratoga II similar to this. (The New Piper Aircraft Inc.)

The aircraft belonging to John F. Kennedy Jr. is reported to be a Piper Saratoga II that he had owned for about a month and a half.

The Saratoga is a single-engine, six-passenger plane with a price tag of about $400,000. The company calls its two Saratoga II models "the ultimate off-road vehicles."

According to the Coast Guard, the plane was last heard from on final approach to Martha's Vineyard at 9:39 Friday night. No flight plan was filed, and Coast Guard officials said they do not know how far from the island the plane was when contact was lost.

Kennedy is reportedly a "decent" pilot with about two years experience. Original reports that Kennedy's flight instructor was on the plane were apparently incorrect. Family members say only Kennedy, his wife and his sister-in-law were aboard.

Manufacturer: The New Piper Aircraft Inc., Vero Beach, Fla.
Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A 300 HP at 2500 rpm, turbocharged, direct drive, six-cylinder, fuel-injected.
Maximum speed: Either 166-192 knots depending on configuration.
Fuel: Total 107 gallons in four tanks.
Cruising range: 822-859 nautical miles at 15,000 feet, depending on configuration.
Fuel: Total 107 gallons in four tanks.
Doors: Two, right forward and left rear
Seating: Six seats in club configuration
Miscellaneous: Associated Press is reporting that 1999 models were upgraded with a new cockpit aimed at reducing pilot workload "because there are fewer buttons to push and fewer individual instruments to monitor."