Incident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine aircraft reported an incident during a flight from Orlando West Airport to Sebring Airport. According to the pilot, a 'thump' was heard during takeoff from the grass strip at Orlando West, but was attributed to the surface condition. Upon landing at Sebring Airport, a scraping sound was heard as the nose was lowered, prompting the pilot to initiate a go-around. The pilot then concluded that the nosewheel was missing.
Landing and Damage
On the subsequent landing approach, the pilot shut down the engine and allowed the nose to settle onto the runway, sliding to a stop. Investigation revealed that the nosewheel had been lost prior to landing. The nosewheel strut was bent aft, and the tips of the propeller blades were bent. Additionally, the pilot's door appeared to have separated from the aircraft in flight, and all seats except the pilot's were missing.
Investigative Findings
The sheriff's investigator reported finding marijuana residue inside the aircraft. No other occupants were mentioned in the report. The aircraft's registration, make, model, and engine type were not specified in the source.