Sad day in the aviation world

[Oliver]

Today is a sad day in the aviation world. N48DL, A Cessna 421 on it's way from Sidell (KASD) to Sarasota (KSRQ) Crashed in the Gulf of Mexico earlier today. It is suspected the pilot lost consciousness due to rapid depressurization of the airplane. The plane circled for over an hour before it ran out of fuel and crashed into the Gulf Of Mexico. Reports say the plane gracefully came into contact with the water.

I was at KSRQ Earlier today because that is where my flight school was located, you could see the sad looks in people's faces, surrounded by news crews demanding answers and possible causes to the accident. F15s were dispacted to the scene because the pilot was unresponsive to ATC, and the Air Force/Coast Guard wanted to make sure the public remained safe.

A sad day in the aviation world... RIP

Flight Path: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N48DL/history/20120419/1230Z/KASD/KSRQ

Picture of N48DL: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/080407.html

[Simmo W]

Very sad Oliver. Must be a sober reminder of dangers faced. The flight track is telling. You can ser little flight deviations where the pilot is realising what is happening and even turns around, then loses consciousness.

[-TheoGregory]

"The plane landed softly in the water and was intact, floating right side up, Boderland said." - Article I read didn't actually say whether there were any fatalities? Do you know if there was Oliver?

[Oliver]

Last news I read said they hadn't found the pilot even tonight, and unforutnately they were saying he was dead. I'll be at the airport tomorrow and I'm sure I'll receive more news, I'll keep the thread updated with what I receive.