What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot (asel and instrument rated)and pax (son - asel rated/not instrument rated) departed kism 12/20/2018 at approx 0904. Witness summary reports speaking with pilot about bad weather enroute from kism to princeton airport rocky hill NJ through central with a line running NE toward jacksonville. The pilot stated he could climb over it;witness stated fly safe.
The first radar target with voice was 0821 .20 NM from rnway 15 kism, turned north and continued climb. At 0859 2 way communication and radar with jax ARTCC R73 climbing through FL220 for FL230. Contoller advised of moderate to heavy percipitation for next 200 miles. Pilot reported he keep an eye on weather. At 0900 the aircraft flew into radar returns between 10 to 30 dbz which equates to light to moderate precip, but above freezing level. At 0902 the flight flew a slight westerly deviation followed by a right descending turn not directed by ATC or announced by the pilot. The aircraft completed a 360 turn while descending with a controller query and no reply at 0903:10. ATC made another attempt simutaneously being stepped on by pilot. At 0903:27 the aircraft was at 14,500 advsing they were not ok and needed help...pilot was unsure of what was happening but mentioned "anti-ice" and could not maintain altitude. ATC provided vector to nearest airport west of their position. 0904:32 the last communication with the aircraft while ar 3300 feet MSL an occupant advised ATC they were inverted. At 0904:40 the last radar return indicated 1,700 ft MSL. Whereby a search and rescue was initiated
As the FAA filed it
PILOT (ASEL AND INSTRUMENT RATED)AND PAX (SON - ASEL RATED/NOT INSTRUMENT RATED) DEPARTED KISM 12/20/2018 AT APPROX 0904. WITNESS SUMMARY REPORTS SPEAKING WITH PILOT ABOUT BAD WEATHER ENROUTE FROM KISM TO PRINCETON AIRPORT ROCKY HILL NJ THROUGH CENTRAL WITH A LINE RUNNING NE TOWARD JACKSONVILLE. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD CLIMB OVER IT;WITNESS STATED FLY SAFE.
THE FIRST RADAR TARGET WITH VOICE WAS 0821 .20 NM FROM RNWAY 15 KISM, TURNED NORTH AND CONTINUED CLIMB. AT 0859 2 WAY COMMUNICATION AND RADAR WITH JAX ARTCC R73 CLIMBING THROUGH FL220 FOR FL230. CONTOLLER ADVISED OF MODERATE TO HEAVY PERCIPITATION FOR NEXT 200 MILES. PILOT REPORTED HE KEEP AN EYE ON WEATHER. AT 0900 THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO RADAR RETURNS BETWEEN 10 TO 30 DBZ WHICH EQUATES TO LIGHT TO MODERATE PRECIP, BUT ABOVE FREEZING LEVEL. AT 0902 THE FLIGHT FLEW A SLIGHT WESTERLY DEVIATION FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN NOT DIRECTED BY ATC OR ANNOUNCED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED A 360 TURN WHILE DESCENDING WITH A CONTROLLER QUERY AND NO REPLY AT 0903:10. ATC MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT SIMUTANEOUSLY BEING STEPPED ON BY PILOT. AT 0903:27 THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 14,500 ADVSING THEY WERE NOT OK AND NEEDED HELP...PILOT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING BUT MENTIONED "ANTI-ICE" AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. ATC PROVIDED VECTOR TO NEAREST AIRPORT WEST OF THEIR POSITION. 0904:32 THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE AIRCRAFT WHILE AR 3300 FEET MSL AN OCCUPANT ADVISED ATC THEY WERE INVERTED. AT 0904:40 THE LAST RADAR RETURN INDICATED 1,700 FT MSL. WHEREBY A SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS INITIATED
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.