Overview
The aircraft crashed at night during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) on the return portion of a cross-country flight. The outbound leg was flown in early dusk, and the return flight began just before midnight. The accident occurred at 0035 Central Standard Time.
Weather
The weather at Peoria, Illinois, at the time of the accident was reported as a 500-foot ceiling with visibility of 4 miles in fog and haze. These conditions constituted IMC, which requires instrument flight proficiency.
Pilot Information
The pilot had accumulated 28 hours of flight time in the type of aircraft being used. Total night experience was 16 hours, and the pilot held no instrument rating. Prior to the outbound flight, the pilot had checked the weather; however, there was no record of a weather briefing for the return flight.
Impact
The aircraft impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude. No further details regarding injuries or damage were provided in the official source.