Accident Details
At approximately 2209 Pacific Daylight Time, a pilot departed Fresno, California on a night visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight. He cancelled his VFR flight plan at 0009 PDT and landed at Ramona, California at 0012. After landing, he telephoned his wife to ask about the weather at Palomar, California. She reported that she could see stars from her location. The pilot then took off again at approximately 0017 for a roughly 23-mile flight.
Approximately 15 miles west of Ramona, the aircraft struck the side of a hill in a grove of avocado trees at an elevation of about 1000 feet above mean sea level.
Weather Conditions
Local residents reported that the weather was foggy with about half a mile of visibility and a ceiling of about 300 feet. The wind was calm and the temperature was 56 degrees Fahrenheit. According to residents, the fog had been present in the valley for two to three hours.
Investigation
Examination of the accident site and the wreckage found no evidence of an in-flight structural failure or loss of engine power.