Accident Details
The accident involved a non-instrument rated private pilot who encountered level 4 thunderstorms. The airplane subsequently collided into the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 15 miles west of Freeport, Bahamas. According to the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center, the aircraft was at a cruise altitude of 4,700 feet when radio and radar contact was lost.
Weather Briefing Records
The Federal Aviation Administration had no records of weather briefings provided to the pilot prior to the accident.
Search and Recovery
Following the loss of contact, a search for the missing airplane was conducted. The Coast Guard recovered three occupants and approximately 300 pounds of aircraft wreckage and debris. No information was available regarding the aircraft's make, model, registration, or the flight's origin and intended destination.
Information from Source
The official source did not provide additional details about the aircraft type, operator, or the outcome of the occupants. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Freeport, a city on Grand Bahama Island, and the aircraft was at a cruising altitude when contact was lost.