What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot cancelled flight following with pbi approach, then called back and stated he had pain in back of head, loss of vision, turned a/c east and headed towards open ocean, witness a/c observed a/c climb dive, then proceeded vertically into water. (-23 additional narrative) pilot was operating aircraft without a valid medial certificate. Pilot complained of physical problems which impaired his ability to control aircraft. Aircraft impacted water and was destroyed. Pilot's body was not recovered. NTSB is continuing investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT CANCELLED FLIGHT FOLLOWING WITH PBI APPROACH, THEN CALLED BACK AND STATED HE HAD PAIN IN BACK OF HEAD, LOSS OF VISION, TURNED A/C EAST AND HEADED TOWARDS OPEN OCEAN, WITNESS A/C OBSERVED A/C CLIMB DIVE, THEN PROCEEDED VERTICALLY INTO WATER. (-23 ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE) PILOT WAS OPERATING AIRCRAFT WITHOUT A VALID MEDIAL CERTIFICATE. PILOT COMPLAINED OF PHYSICAL PROBLEMS WHICH IMPAIRED HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WATER AND WAS DESTROYED. PILOT'S BODY WAS NOT RECOVERED. NTSB IS CONTINUING INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.