New Port Richey

Prior to the accident flight, the pilot indicated that he was aware of the thunderstorm activity along his route of flight and that he anticipated deviating around the weather as necessary. While enroute to his destination, the pilot requested and was provided both weather information and pilot reports from other aircraft by air traffic control (ATC). Upon encountering an area of thunderstorm activity that extended east-to-west across the route of flight, the pilot reported encountering significant turbulence, and then downdrafts of 2,000 feet per minute. He then requested a course reversal to exit the weather before he declared an emergency and advised ATC that the airplane was upside down. There were no further transmissions from the pilot and radar contact with the airplane was lost. Review of radar data revealed that the pilot had deviated south and then southwest when the airplane entered a strong and intense echo of extreme intensity. Visible imaging revealed that the echo was located in an area of a rapidly developing cumulonimbus cloud with a defined overshooting top, indicating the storm was in the mature stage or at its maximum intensity. Two debris fields were later discovered near the area where the cumulonimbus cloud had been observed. This was indicative that the airplane had penetrated the main core of the cumulonimbus cloud, which resulted in an inflight breakup of the airplane. Near the heavier echoes the airplane's airborne weather radar may have been unable to provide an accurate representation of the radar echoes along the aircraft's flight path; therefore the final penetration of the intense portion of the storm was likely unintentional.

The pic departed on a ferry flight in VFR conditions without a ferry permit. Witnesses stated they observed the airplane returning to the airport at about 150 to 500 feet. The airplane was observed to begin a left turn with the landing gear extended. A fire was observed in the vicinity of the left engine exhaust. The airplane continued in a steep descending left turn before it disappeared below the tree line and collided with the terrain. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured.

The aircraft had been abandoned in the Bahamas for approximately 7 months. A pilot, with no known flight time in a Cessna 421, flew it to Fort Lauderdale. Except to avoid clouds, he made the flight at a low altitude and airspeed. When asked why, he said he was trying to save the engines. The pilot then departed toward an area of dark clouds and thunderstorms. When he did not arrive at the destination, a search was initiated. The aircraft was found 4 days later where it crashed in a steep nose down attitude. Radar data showed the aircraft made several heading changes and was returning to the dep airport before it crashed. The forward part of the aircraft was buried in a swamp, but the aft edges of the wings, fuselage and empennage were visible above water. The props had rotational damages; no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was evident. An exam of the right eng revealed its #2 pushrods and rocker arms/shafts/retainers had been removed before flight. Also, a #2 spark plug was stowed with its ignition lead attached. The aircraft owner was not found. The pilot's medical certificate was dated 5/28/85.