Incident Overview
An aircraft departed Homestead, Florida, for a test flight. While flying over the Gulf of Mexico, the pilot reported encountering a severe electrical storm. The pilot subsequently became lost and disoriented in the storm conditions.
Sequence of Events
After losing situational awareness, the pilot made the decision to ditch the aircraft. The ditching occurred approximately 375 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Following the ditching, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Rescue
Both occupants of the aircraft were rescued after the ditching. No further details regarding the rescue operation are available from the source.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident, as determined by the official investigation, is that the pilot became lost and disoriented after encountering a severe electrical storm in flight.