What happened
The aircraft crashed into a wooded area during a high-speed descent on a dark and stormy night. The pilot had telephoned the St. Louis Flight Service Station (FSS) on April 30, 1983, to request weather information for Kansas City. The weather briefers advised the pilot that the area was under a tornado watch. The pilot acknowledged this warning and received the requested briefing.
Despite receiving the weather advisory, the pilot did not file a flight plan or make any radio calls during the flight. The flight was monitored on radar until it disappeared at 2033 Central Daylight Time (CDT). When the aircraft was reported missing, its position was plotted from the last known radar contact. This location is where the wreckage was found on May 3, 1983.
Findings
The weather map indicates that the aircraft was in a thunderstorm area at the time of the crash. The pilot was not instrument rated. The Cessna involved in the accident was operating under visual flight rules without an approved flight plan. The combination of stormy weather, a tornado watch, and the lack of instrument rating contributed to the outcome. All occupants were killed.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution when flying in areas under a tornado watch or within thunderstorm cells. Filing a flight plan and maintaining radio contact can facilitate search and rescue efforts if an emergency occurs.