Accident Summary
At 0029 CDT, the pilot contacted a local air traffic control tower stating that he was in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with zero visibility, requesting assistance and desiring to land at the closest airport. The pilot was not instrument rated. The aircraft was at 2,000 ft and was instructed to climb to 2,500 ft. The controller stated that he was trying to get the aircraft above the 2,300 ft minimum vectoring altitude and intended to continue the climb to visual meteorological conditions (VMC) at approximately 4,000 ft.
Initially, the aircraft was headed toward Midway Airport, but when Midway went to IFR, the destination was changed to O'Hare. According to a witness, the aircraft was flying low and entered a climb to an approximately 90-degree nose-high attitude before the nose dropped and the aircraft descended vertically to the ground. Overcast cloud layers in the area varied from 700 to 1,100 ft.
Investigation Details
No further information was provided in the source. The aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, occupants, injuries, damage items, time of day beyond 0029 CDT, weather characterization beyond the stated IMC and cloud layers, or ATC involvement beyond the exchange described are not specified.
The probable cause has not been determined from the source.