Flight Planning and Weather Briefings
The pilot first contacted Flight Service Station (FSS) for a weather briefing at 0916, planning a flight to Catalina Island and onward to San Jose. During this initial briefing, VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot made four additional calls to FSS, with the final call at 1402, during which he requested and received weather information for Montgomery Field and Gillespie Field. Both airports were still reporting weather conditions below VFR minima.
Departure and Special VFR Clearance
At 1443, the pilot contacted the tower and received a Special VFR clearance. The aircraft departed at 1449. Approximately two minutes after departure, the pilot was informed that he was inside Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar's airspace. In response, the pilot stated that he would like to return to the airport.
Collision with Terrain
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft collided with terrain approximately 10 feet below the north peak of Fortuna Mountain. The collision resulted in damage to the aircraft. No further details about injuries or fatalities are provided in the investigation source.