Incident Overview
At approximately 1745, while over Hilton Head airport en route to the pilot's planned fuel stop, the passenger—identified as the pilot's wife—used a cellular phone to report to a friend that her husband could not descend below the clouds.
Communication
At 1817, the pilot advised Jacksonville tower that the flight was about 22 miles northeast inbound for landing. One minute later, he contacted Jacksonville approach and stated he would "...get a little bit oriented first,...10 miles east-northeast inbound landing, circle around out here and get a heading or give me vector." The airplane was assigned a discrete transponder code, and the pilot was given the altimeter setting, wind information, and active runway information. No further radio contact was made with the pilot.
Radar Data
Radar data indicates that the airplane began a left descending turn to the east, with ground speed increasing. The airplane impacted the water during this descending left turn. Witnesses reported hearing the engine operating normally during the descent.
Wreckage
Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed evidence consistent with a high-speed impact with the water.