What happened
The pilot departed from Crystal Lake with the intention of visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. He did not obtain a preflight weather briefing nor did he contact any ground facility during the flight. He was qualified to fly in VFR conditions only. The aircraft impacted the surface of a frozen lake eight miles from Duluth IAP and was destroyed.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed nothing that would cause an inflight problem. Weather at Duluth IAP at the approximate time of the crash was: estimated 1000 ft overcast, visibility 1 1/2 miles with light snow and fog. Weather at Duluth 40 min before this observation was: 200 ft ceiling, sky obscured. Visibility 3/4 mile with light snow and fog.
Findings
The pilot's decision to fly without a weather briefing in deteriorating conditions contributed to the accident. The aircraft was destroyed beyond repair. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, but the event resulted in fatal outcomes for those on board.