(A Witness) Heard The Engine “Popping” Like It Was Backfiring

On September 21, 2020, about 1437 eastern daylight time, a Vans RV8, N800PB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hilliard, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s son, they flew together in the airplane earlier during the day from Flagler Executive Airport (FIN), to the Polk County Airport (4A4), Cedartown, Georgia. They departed around 0900 and landed about 1100. They flew to 4A4 because the son purchased another airplane and was going to fly it back to New Jersey, and his father was going to fly back to FIN. They departe