What happened
A two-airplane flight, traveling on a route primarily over the Atlantic Ocean, departed for a cross-country journey. The pilot of the first aircraft, a multiengine airplane, was the lead plane in the formation. While both pilots had reviewed weather information prior to departure, there was no official record confirming that the pilot of the accident aircraft had received a formal weather briefing. Shortly after takeoff, air traffic control notified the second pilot of thunderstorms near the destination; this pilot subsequently changed his flight path and arrived safely.
As the first aircraft approached its destination, radar data and air traffic control communications indicated the plane was flying at approximately 700 feet. The pilot reported to the tower that he was attempting to fly underneath a thunderstorm. Approximately two miles south of the shoreline, radar tracking showed the aircraft at an altitude of 532 feet. Following this, all communication ceased. The wreckage was later discovered in roughly 50 feet of water, having broken into multiple pieces.
Findings
Investigation of the aircraft and engines revealed no mechanical failures or pre-impact anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. However, weather imagery confirmed the aircraft entered an area of extreme intensity radar echoes with storm tops reaching nearly 48,000 feet. Local observations documented a shelf cloud and mammatus clouds, which are indicators of potential severe turbulence.
It is believed the pilot encountered heavy precipitation, gusting winds, and low visibility while flying at a very low altitude. These environmental factors likely led to an in-flight loss of control, though the specific reason for the loss of control could not be definitively established.