Incident Overview
A pilot who had recently purchased an aircraft was using it for weekly commuting between Hialeah and La Belle, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. The wreckage was discovered completely submerged in a canal after a Florida Fish & Game official became suspicious upon observing small debris hanging from a powerline.
Weather Conditions
Visual flight rules (VFR) weather conditions prevailed in Miami at the time of the 0830 departure. However, a witness at the La Belle airport reported that after 0700, fog completely covered the airport, with visibility reduced to 30 feet. The wind picked up around 1000, and between 1030 and 1100, the wind blew the fog away.
Discovery
The wreckage was found entirely submerged in a canal. The discovery occurred after a Florida Fish & Game official noticed debris on a powerline and investigated, leading to the location of the submerged aircraft.