There is also a police report of a small aircraft landing nearby at that same time, that he was a UFO theorist, as well as the fact the plane was never observed on radar to support a hoax. He could also have fallen victim to a common sensory illusion of flight and crashed into the water. This is supported by the fact he was a young inexperienced pilot with a poor flight record who had failed multiple commercial flight exams. The fact a cowling was found washed ashore that was from his model plane and fell in its serial number range could be argued evidence for any theory. It could be a UFO, it's possible. But when a UFO enthusiast, rookie pilot with numerous rejections has it happen my money is on the first two. Without more evidence though no one can say for sure.
*shudders*