DURING THE WX BRIEFING THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO LOW CEILINGS & VISBILITIES JUST EAST OF PANAMA CITY & ALONG THE GULF COAST. AT 2015, APPROXIMATELY 28 MI SE OF DESTIN, THE PLT CONTACTED EGLIN APPROACH CONTROL(A/C) & WAS ADVISED THAT EGLIN A/C HAD NO WX CAPABILITY FOR DESTIN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE EGLIN CONTROL ZONE WAS IFR & WAS ASKED IF HE WAS IFR QUALIFIED. THE PLT STATED HE WAS NOT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PLT. THE ACFT THEN APPEARED TO BE IN AN ORBIT, & A FEW MINUTES LATER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. ON 4/27/82 THE PLT'S BODY WASHED ASHORE ON THE GULF COAST IN THE VICINTIY OF THE ACFT'S LAST KNOWN POSITION. THE WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED & THE TWO PAX ARE MISSING & PRESUMED FATAL. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PLT CERTIFICATE ON 4/3/82.