Incident Overview
At 1117, a pilot contacted Miami Center, stating that he was leaving 4,500 feet for 5,000 feet. At 1140, Miami Center advised the pilot several times that radar contact was lost, but there was no response. No further contact with the pilot was established.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage on-scene revealed the cockpit, engine, and a small portion of the aft empennage in a confined area. The cockpit and instruments were fire damaged. The wings, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilator, and pieces of the empennage were found scattered within 500 feet of the cockpit area. The right aileron and flap were not located.
Weather Conditions
A review of available weather data showed that a frontal boundary was situated in the vicinity of the accident location. The Melbourne Doppler radar indicated that a moderate rain shower was near the accident location at the accident time. In addition, the radar's Velocity Azimuth Display wind profiles around the accident time indicated that the wind below 3,000 feet was from the north-northeast and the wind at 5,000 feet was from the south at 15-20 knots, producing updrafts of localized severe to extreme turbulence. Pilot reports indicated that Instrument Meteorological Conditions were present in the accident area.