There is no evidence that he requested flight following for a local flight with ATC (which in the past was only with the "Center" long range en-route ATC as a courtesy, traffic permitting and not with Departure/Approach radar control which would be in effect for that distance)  Again, the question is if there was still a radar target with transponder return and altitude readout, despite  no flight plan, why is the system automation not designed to notice that the aircraft unexpectedly drops off radar and they did not return to a controlled airport with a log?  In some cases, if the accident was initially survival, time is of the essence to effect rescue before someone perishes.