Accident Overview
The aircraft impacted the Atlantic Ocean near Mayport, Florida. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The aircraft was privately owned and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The personal flight originated from Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Orlando, Florida, about 0821, and was destined for Princeton Airport in Princeton/Rocky Hill, New Jersey.
Flight History and Communication
According to preliminary air traffic control radar and voice data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at 0859:02, one occupant contacted the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZJX ARTCC) R-73 sector controller, reporting passing through Flight Level (FL) 220 for FL230. The controller advised the pilot of moderate and some heavy precipitation along the route extending for 200 nautical miles. The occupant acknowledged and said they would be watching the weather.
FAA radar data indicated the flight reached FL227 at 0900:22. Preliminary weather data revealed this altitude was above the freezing level, and at that time the flight entered an area of weather radar returns with intensities between 10 to 30 dBZ (light to moderate precipitation). While in the precipitation, the flight climbed to FL230. At 0902:14, while at the edge of the precipitation, the airplane started a slight left turn before entering a right turn at 0902:28 at FL226. The turn had not been directed by the controller or announced by either occupant.
Between 0902:28 and 0903:10, the airplane descended from FL226 to FL202. At 0903:10, while descending through FL202, the controller attempted to contact the flight but received no reply. After several more attempts, at 0903:27 while at 14,500 feet mean sea level (msl), an occupant advised, "were not ok we need help." The controller asked if the pilot was declaring an emergency and "whats going on." At 0903:35, at 12,600 feet msl, an occupant stated, "I'm not sure whats happening," followed by "I have anti-ice and everything." At 0903:40, the controller asked if the flight could maintain altitude; an occupant responded they could not. The controller provided vectors to a nearby airport west of their position, but the flight did not reply to that or a subsequent query.
At about 0904:32, the last communication from the airplane, while at 3,300 feet msl, an occupant advised the controller that the airplane was inverted and asked for assistance. The last radar recorded position with altitude read-out was at 0904:40, at an altitude of 1,700 feet msl, at coordinates 30.40069° north latitude and -81.3844° west longitude.
Search and Recovery
The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a search for the missing airplane, but the wreckage was not located, and the search was suspended on December 22, 2018. A privately funded search was initiated, and the wreckage was located and recovered on February 6, 2019. The recovered wreckage was retained for further investigation.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause findings stated: an in-flight loss of control following an encounter with supercooled large droplet icing conditions, which ultimately resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent inflight breakup. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed for flight in icing conditions.