NTSB Factual Report

On December 7, 1996, at 1757 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182, N8683T, disappeared from radar coverage about twenty eight miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and never arrived at the destination airport. The Winyoh Rescue Services airplane operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time the airplane disappeared from radar coverage. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger are presumed to have received fatal injuries. The flight departed Georgetown, South Carolina, at 1600.

According to an official from Winyoh Rescue Services, the airplane was on a search mission when, at 1734:38, the pilot reported to Charleston Approach Control that he was encountering instrument conditions. He requested vectors to land at Mount Pleasant Airport. Since the pilot was not instrument rated, the approach control attempted to give the pilot vectors to remain clear of the severe weather. The approach control personnel attempted to vector the pilot around level 3 and 4 thunderstorms that had moved into the area. The pilot also requested altitude deviations and turns in order to remain in visual conditions which were granted by the air traffic control personnel. After vectoring the pilot for 21 minutes, the pilot stated he had about thirty minutes of fuel left, and the air traffic control personnel attempted to help the pilot land at the nearest airport. The approach control personnel advised the pilot to remain on a heading of 290, and fly, wings level, through the clouds for ten miles. While in the clouds, the pilot stated, "What's happening to me?". Approach control then lost both radio and radar contact with the airplane. Radio contact was lost at 1756:38. The last radar position of the Cessna was twenty eight miles southeast of the Charleston International Airport.

According to flight service station personnel, the pilot did not receive a weather briefing or file a flight plan before departure.

The airplane was located on March 6, 1997 in the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, SC. It was not recovered due to the lack of evidence available after three months on the ocean floor. The pilot and passenger's bodies were not located or recovered.

NTSB Probable Cause

The noninstrument-rated pilot's failure to remain clear of instrument meteorological conditions which led to spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing.