Flight Sequence
The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) at 9,500 feet with air traffic control (ATC) flight following. The pilot, who was not instrument rated, informed ATC that he was unable to maintain VFR conditions and climbed to 11,000 feet. He later advised ATC that he was again unable to maintain VFR and intended to descend. ATC observed the aircraft enter a left turn from south-southeast through north to west, after which it disappeared from radar.
Witness Observations
A witness, who was a pilot on the ground, heard the aircraft in the clouds with engine power alternately increasing and decreasing. He then saw the aircraft emerge from the cloud base in a spin with a portion of the right wing missing. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a swamp, resulting in the deaths of all three occupants.
Weather and Maintenance
The ground witness reported that at the time of the accident, the weather was VFR at ground level with a cloud base estimated at 2,000 feet and visibility of at least 5 miles. The previous day, a mechanic had informed the pilot that the engine-driven vacuum pump was inoperative. The attitude indicator and heading indicator were vacuum-powered.