What happened
At approximately 1605 CDT, the pilot activated a VFR flight plan for an Van's RV-6 traveling from Nashville, Tennessee, to Venice, Florida. At 1813, the pilot contacted Tallahassee FSS and received a weather briefing regarding conditions en route to Sarasota, Florida. This communication marked the last known contact with the aircraft.
A radar controller at Jacksonville Center observed a track along airway V-97 that aligned with the pilot's intended route. However, the pilot was not in radio contact with Jacksonville Center. Later analysis of radar data showed that the flight path and altitude became erratic as the aircraft continued over the Gulf of Mexico. The signal persisted until the vicinity of Licks Intersection, where it disappeared from radar within an area of thunderstorm activity.
A search was initiated and continued until July 11, 1982, with negative results. The aircraft was presumed to have been destroyed and the occupants were presumed deceased.
Findings
The erratic flight path and disappearance over the Gulf of Mexico in severe weather suggest a catastrophic event. No mechanical failure or pilot error was explicitly confirmed due to the lack of wreckage recovery.
3 fatal
Safety message
Pilots should remain vigilant regarding weather avoidance, especially when operating over large bodies of water where search and rescue options are limited.