Accident Sequence
After departing from runway 24, the pilot was instructed by air traffic control to climb to and maintain 5,000 feet, turn to a heading of 060 degrees, and proceed direct to a navigation aid. The pilot acknowledged the instructions. Approximately two minutes later, the controller inquired about the pilot's actions but received no response. A witness later reported seeing the aircraft emerge from the base of a 700-foot overcast cloud layer in a steep nose-down attitude before impacting the ocean. The aircraft and pilot were not recovered from the water.
Pilot Background
According to acquaintances, the pilot had recently resumed flying activities. On a medical certificate issued four months prior to the accident, the pilot reported zero flight hours in the preceding six months. The investigation was unable to locate the pilot's flight time records, thus recent flying experience or instrument currency could not be established.
Weather Conditions
Weather observations and reports indicated that the base of the overcast layer was at 700 feet, with tops at 2,000 feet.