What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot flew to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to inspect an aircraft for potential purchase. Earlier in the day, around 1000, the pilot informed his wife that he had landed at Norwood, Massachusetts, due to deteriorating weather and snow. He was waiting for a rental car to arrive so he could drive home.
At approximately 1430, the pilot spoke with his wife again, noting his frustration with the delay in receiving the rental car. At roughly 1612, the pilot requested a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance to depart the airport toward the southwest. The air traffic controller denied this request, noting a ceiling of 400 feet overcast and observing what appeared to be up to two inches of snow and slush contamination on the airplane's wings and control surfaces.
Despite the denial of clearance and the warning regarding weather and contamination, the pilot departed the airport without authorization and turned southwest. There were no further communications from the aircraft. Local residents reported seeing or hearing a low-flying airplane, and the final radar contact and visual sighting occurred between 1930 and 2000. The pilot's body was recovered in Buzzards Bay on May 27, 2001; however, the aircraft remained unlocated as of May 8, 2002.
Weather observations from an airport in Falmouth, Massachusetts, during the period of disappearance included visibility of 1.5 miles in light rain and mist, with ceilings ranging between 300 and 800 feet.