Flight Details
The flight was conducted to photograph a sailboat underway in Puget Sound. After circling the boat three times at a low altitude, the pilot directed the aircraft southbound toward the destination airport. The weather was visual flight rules (VFR).
Accident Sequence
Radar data showed the aircraft climbing to 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL), then reversing course. It entered a dive at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute and was tracked until it disappeared at 500 feet AGL. During the dive, no radio communications were received from the aircraft, which had been in contact with air traffic control (ATC).
Search and Recovery
Witnesses at the accident site reported only seeing a splash. Search efforts were unable to locate the wreckage or any occupants in water approximately 500 feet deep, and neither has been recovered.