Incident Summary
A pilot was traveling eastbound along Highway 58 en route to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a banner towing operation. As the flight progressed through the Tehachapi foothills, the pilot encountered fog that was forming in the area. In response, the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn to reverse course. During this maneuver, the aircraft inadvertently entered instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, after entering IFR conditions, he became spatially disoriented. He stated that he attempted to descend as slowly as possible, but the aircraft struck the side of a hill.