What happened
A student pilot had traveled to the Riverton airport to attend ground school. Prior to his departure at approximately 2235 PDT, stars were visible overhead, but horizontal visibility was poor with a haze layer at about 500 feet above ground level. At approximately 2250, a witness near the crash site observed the white and green lights of the aircraft just prior to impact. He reported hearing the constant sound of the engine before the aircraft crashed. Due to darkness and reduced visibility, the wreckage was not found until the next day. An investigation revealed that the aircraft had impacted in a ravine, surrounded by high terrain. Impact had occurred in a steep descent with the right wing down. Approximately 9 miles northwest of the crash site, the weather was reportedly obscured, with 2 mile visibility with fog, temperature and dew point at 60 degrees, wind from 240 degrees at 6 knots. Prior to the flight, the student was cautioned about flying in reduced visibility, but he responded, 'It's OK, I've got over 50 hours.'
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the aircraft had impacted in a ravine, surrounded by high terrain. Impact had occurred in a steep descent with the right wing down.
Findings
The student pilot was cautioned about flying in reduced visibility but proceeded anyway. The weather conditions were poor with poor horizontal visibility and a haze layer at about 500 feet above ground level. The aircraft impacted in a ravine, surrounded by high terrain, in a steep descent with the right wing down.