Incident Overview
While en route from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Rolla, Missouri, the pilot of a general aviation aircraft encountered an area of low ceilings and fog. In an effort to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) at low altitude, the aircraft struck trees on top of a hill. The pilot then executed an abrupt climb, but the aircraft stalled, entered a spin, and subsequently crashed.
Weather Conditions
The nearest official weather observation was recorded nine miles away at Vichy, Missouri, at 1256 Central Standard Time. The report indicated an indefinite ceiling 200 feet obscured, visibility 1/4 mile with light drizzle and fog, temperature and dew point 56 degrees Fahrenheit, wind from 110 degrees at 8 knots, and altimeter setting 29.82 inches of mercury.
Pilot Actions and Preflight Preparation
The pilot reported that he had not requested a weather briefing prior to takeoff. Instead, he relied on information obtained from an unofficial source. The decision to continue under VFR despite deteriorating conditions likely contributed to the sequence of events, though the source does not state causation.
Conclusion
The aircraft struck trees during a low-altitude VFR flight in reduced visibility, followed by an aerodynamic stall and spin. The investigation does not assign a probable cause in the source material.