Incident Overview
A pilot, familiar with the airport, made two passes over the field in an effort to activate the runway lights using the aircraft's radio and to observe the wind sock. After observing a northerly wind and being unable to activate the lights, he elected to land on Runway 36 rather than divert to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
Landing Sequence
The aircraft floated over the runway numbers and touched down approximately 528 feet from the departure end of the runway. As it approached the seawall, the pilot applied full up elevator. The aircraft then became airborne momentarily, flew over the seawall, and landed in Tampa Bay in about 18 feet of water.
Post-Accident Observations
The pilot stated that after the accident he observed the winds to be from the south. Runway lights were checked by FAA personnel to ensure they could be activated using the UNICOM frequency 122.95, and were found to operate satisfactorily. A note found by police in the wreckage read "LIGHTS 121.95."