Departure
The aircraft departed from a private airstrip shortly before the arrival of a thunderstorm. Witnesses provided varied observations: one noted that the airplane used an abnormal amount of runway during takeoff, while another reported that the engine sounded like it was laboring. A third witness stated the engine sounded normal. One witness described the approaching storm as a "virtual wall of water." The airplane was not equipped with an artificial horizon instrument.
Search and Recovery
When the aircraft failed to arrive at its intended destination, a search was initiated. On June 22, 2003, a portion of the left main landing gear strut and tire was located in a river a few hundred yards from the departure airport. On August 8, 2003, the airplane was located in the water a few miles from the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of airframe, engine, or component malfunction.
Weather Conditions
A review of radar and satellite data revealed a large area of thunderstorms along the intended route of flight. Conditions included cumulus clouds embedded in an overcast layer, a band of towering cumulus to developing cumulonimbus clouds, and an area of radar echoes across the intended route with reflectivities at video integrator and processor (VIP) Level 4 to 5, characterized as "very strong" to "intense" intensity.