June 22, 2004, Dunkirk, N.Y. / Cessna 210P

The Cessna was presumed destroyed when it impacted Lake Erie while in cruise flight near Dunkirk, N.Y., at approximately 1050 Eastern time. The solo Commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Flint, Mich., for Jamestown, N.Y. Earlier, the airplane was cruising at 9000 feet and in contact with ATC. The airplane was cleared to descend to 5000 feet at the pilots discretion and was deviating around thunderstorm activity when radar and radio communication was lost. Initial radar data revealed that at 1049:30, the airplane was at 7400 feet when it began a right turn. The airplane continued in a right turn and, at 1049:53, was at 5600 feet. Fourteen seconds later, the airplanes last radar target was observed at 1050:07, at 2300 feet. A witness reported hearing an airplane overhead. Within 10 seconds, he observed an airplane exit the clouds in a nose-down spiral, with one wing missing.