Accident Sequence
The accident occurred during a night newspaper delivery flight conducted under visual meteorological conditions. After completing two uneventful legs, the pilot departed on the third leg. Radar data showed that following takeoff, the airplane flew at an altitude of about 100 to 200 feet over open water toward the destination airport, then climbed to 2,400 feet. Shortly after, the pilot performed a 360-degree left turn and then a 360-degree right turn while maintaining 2,400 feet, before continuing toward the destination. Less than two minutes later, the airplane began a rapid descending left turn and subsequently collided with water. The wreckage was located on the sea floor near the last radar target. Impact forces destroyed both wings, the cabin, cockpit, and nose section. The wreckage was not recovered, preventing examination for preimpact malfunctions.
Pilot Information
The pilot held commercial and instrument ratings. He had accumulated about 1,650 hours of total flight experience, of which about 1,100 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Although most of his flights were conducted during daylight, he regularly operated flights in night conditions. An autopsy did not identify any natural disease findings significant enough to have contributed to the accident. Toxicological testing detected ethanol in the pilot's cavity blood, but it likely resulted from postmortem production.
Aircraft Information
The multiengine airplane had been operated for about 25 hours since its most recent inspection, which was performed about three weeks before the accident.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not recovered.