Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed in a snow-covered field during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The aircraft was discovered several hours after the crash by a snow plow operator passing on a nearby road. The crash site was a flat open field, and the aircraft came to rest in a wings-level, nose-low, descending attitude on a heading of 135 degrees.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses in the area reported hearing and seeing an aircraft flying low just before the crash. However, no witnesses observed the actual impact. The aircraft was only located later when a snow plow operator spotted the wreckage.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor. The ceiling was indefinite at 200 feet, with the sky obscured. Visibility was less than one mile due to snow. The wind was from 360 degrees at 17 knots. These conditions constituted IMC.
Pilot Information
The pilot was not instrument rated, meaning they were not certified to fly solely by reference to instruments in conditions of reduced visibility.