What happened
The flight departed from an airport at approximately 2307, following the closure of the control tower. Before departure, the pilot received a briefing from Flight Service Station (FSS) personnel, which indicated no significant weather for either the intended route or the destination airport.
Reconstructed radar data tracked the aircraft flying south before it executed a turn toward the northwest. The radar data showed the aircraft, believed to be the subject aircraft, maintained level flight for several miles. Approximately 35 miles from the probable impact site in the ocean, radar tracking indicated the airplane began a descent of roughly 300 feet per minute. The aircraft disappeared from radar approximately 1 mile offshore.
The following morning, crew members aboard a commercial boat discovered aircraft debris floating in the water.