Accident Sequence
The pilot of a twin-engine airplane and a pilot-rated passenger were conducting a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude of 2,000 feet mean sea level when the right engine seized. The pilot attempted to feather the right engine by pulling the propeller control to the feather position, but the engine did not respond as expected. The airplane could not maintain level flight, so the pilot navigated over water toward a known airport ahead. The passenger made emergency communications with air traffic control.
Visual reference with the ground was lost until the airplane descended through approximately 100 to 200 feet, where visibility was 1 statute mile. The pilot was forced to ditch the airplane in the water about 5 miles short of the airport. During the water impact, the nose of the airplane separated from the fuselage.
Post-Impact
Both the pilot and passenger egressed from the airplane and swam ashore before it sank in about 89 feet of water. They reported that a post-impact fire occurred on the water surface. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination.