Overview
During a cross-country flight, a non-instrument rated pilot encountered low ceiling and rain. The pilot attempted to fly under instrument flight rules and follow radar vectors but lost control of the aircraft, which spiraled into the ground in a steep nose-down attitude at high speed.
Weather Conditions
The nearest weather station reported 700-foot broken ceiling and 5 miles visibility in rain. The pilot had received a weather briefing before departure but did not activate a flight plan or contact anyone by radio for over two and a half hours en route.
Pilot Actions
When the pilot finally made radio contact, he reported being lost and circling in the rain. He had been observed on radar circling north of Fort Polk, Louisiana, for several minutes. Twenty minutes after the first radio contact, the pilot reported having 35 minutes of fuel remaining. Ten minutes later, the crash occurred.
Flight Details
The pilot did not activate a flight plan. No further information about the aircraft, registration, or number of occupants is available from the source.