What happened
The aircraft was ditched in the waters of the Florida Bay following a reported engine issue. According to the pilot's account, the engine began running roughly, prompting him to land the aircraft on the water at approximately 0600 EDT. However, physical evidence contradicted this timeline; the aircraft clock had stopped at 0345, suggesting the event occurred earlier. A commercial fisherman reported seeing a low-flying aircraft heading toward the crash site with no navigation lights illuminated at about 0400 hours.
The aircraft was located in approximately four feet of water in an upright position with its landing gear down, situated about 200 yards west of Calusa Key. The registration records listed an address belonging to a business that rents mailboxes to individuals wishing to remain anonymous. The pilot stated he did not know the passenger, while the passenger claimed they had just met.
The investigation
A physical examination of the recovered aircraft revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction that would explain the engine roughness. However, investigators noted significant unauthorized modifications. The aircraft was equipped with an unapproved cabin fuel tank transfer hose plumbed directly to the left fuel tank. Additionally, two seats had been removed from the cabin.
Findings
The discrepancy between the pilot's stated time of ditching and the stopped clock, combined with the sighting of a lightless aircraft earlier in the morning, suggests the incident occurred prior to the pilot's account. The presence of unapproved fuel system modifications raises questions regarding the airworthiness and maintenance history of the aircraft, despite the lack of direct mechanical failure evidence.