What happened
During a cruise flight along the eastern coast of Florida, the pilot experienced intense vibrations originating from one of the engines. In response to the mechanical instability, the pilot performed an emergency shutdown of the affected engine and feathered the propeller to reduce drag.
Following the malfunction, the pilot attempted to divert the aircraft to the closest available airfield. However, due to the circumstances of the flight, a successful landing at a land-based airport could not be achieved. Consequently, the pilot executed a ditching maneuver in the waters offshore. While both occupants were successfully rescued from the scene, the aircraft sank into the ocean and was subsequently lost.
Findings
An investigation into the incident determined that the primary factor was a powerplant failure for reasons that remained undetermined.