Before Taxiing For Takeoff On A summer evening, the non-instrument-rated pilot of a Piper Arrow listened to information Echo at Fort Lauderdale Executive. It mentioned a distant thunderstorm to the southwest, moving north, and added that hazardous weather information was available on HIWAS, Flight Watch, and Flight Service frequencies. The pilot took off at 7:04 p.m. While he was still on the tower frequency, the tower broadcast to all aircraft a warning of convective activity in the area, with the same list of sources for more detailed information. The pilot obtained flight following from Miami and West Palm Beach Approach Controls; then radar service was terminated, presumably by him, although the accident report does not make this clear. The flight proceeded northward without further contact with ground facilities until the pilot called Orlando Approach. After twice telling him to stand by, the Orlando controller gave the pilot a squawk and instructed him to maintain VFR outside Class B airspace.
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