Accident Details
On June 19, the wreckage of an aircraft was located in the Everglades near Coral Springs, Florida. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, had reported to ground personnel at Fort Lauderdale that he was experiencing an avionics problem and that the passenger entry door had been sprung the previous day when it was slammed. Despite these issues, the pilot elected to depart. The aircraft impacted the terrain in a nose-low attitude. Wreckage was scattered over an area measuring 211 feet long by 55 feet wide.
Investigation
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot was killed in the accident.
Probable Cause
The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight due to the pilot's improper use of flight controls and the pilot's decision to operate the aircraft with known deficiencies in equipment.