Lost Illustrator file -again

I have - a few times - lately lost files that were open during an Illustrator crash. The other times I thought I just might not have saved the file, but this time I am sure that I saved it to my computer. Now - after a crash the file is gone as if it was never there. Missing from "recent documents"  Instead I have found an empty file called "print.ai" - It was also present the last time this happened. Both recent times it was fairly complicated files with many layers and some Astute Grahics effects. I have the Auto Data Recovery feature on, but the file did not turn op when I restarted AI..... I also have Time Machine backup, but it doesnt show up here either.... Damned! ++m