What happened
The aircraft impacted a swampy area after entering a fast dive that resulted in the separation of approximately six feet of the left wing. Air traffic control had been vectoring the flight on radar when the plane suddenly began to steer erratically and disappeared from the radar scope.
Prior to the loss of contact, the pilot transmitted a radio message indicating he believed he had flown over some form of electronic interference. He stated that this interference had "tumbled his gyros" and disrupted his compass readings. The aircraft was equipped with vacuum-operated instruments powered by an engine-driven pump, rather than electronic systems.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators disassembled the vacuum pump to determine if a mechanical failure contributed to the loss of instrument functionality. Examination of the component revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction within the pump mechanism itself.
Findings
Weather conditions in the area were poor, with forecasts calling for ceilings between 2,000 and 3,000 feet broken, occasionally dropping below 1,000 feet overcast. The forecast also included rain showers and fog. An actual weather observation at Lakeland, Florida, at 1650 reported rain showers to the north. The crash site was located approximately 10 miles north of Lakeland.
The pilot's report of gyroscopic failure despite the use of vacuum-operated instruments suggests an external factor or a specific mechanical anomaly not evident in the post-accident examination of the pump. The erratic steering observed on radar correlates with the pilot's loss of directional reference.