Accident Details
An aircraft crashed while the pilot was returning from a cross-country flight at night. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low in a westerly direction, appearing to follow Interstate Highway 8. One witness, traveling westbound on the highway, stated that the aircraft overtook his vehicle while flying at an estimated altitude of 100 to 200 feet above his car. He further reported that the aircraft then turned, crossed over the freeway, struck the side of a mountain, and burst into flames.
Environmental Conditions
The crash site was located at an elevation of approximately 4,200 feet. Low clouds were reported in the area at the time of the accident. At Gillespie Airport, located about 23 miles west of the accident site, weather conditions were reported as a 3,000-foot overcast ceiling with 10 miles of visibility. The elevation at Gillespie Airport is 385 feet.
Mechanical Findings
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.