What happened
The aircraft was operating under a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance when it impacted a rock face slope located approximately two miles east of the airport. The accident occurred more than one hour after sunset, during twilight or dark conditions. At the time of the incident, the pilot did not hold an instrument rating, limiting their ability to navigate solely by reference to instruments in deteriorating weather.
Findings
A special weather observation was taken immediately following the crash. The conditions were reported as having a ceiling of 400 feet broken and 1,400 feet overcast. Visibility was reduced to one and a half miles due to light rain and fog. These meteorological factors likely contributed to spatial disorientation or loss of visual reference for the pilot.
Safety message
Pilots operating under SVFR in marginal weather conditions near terrain must maintain strict situational awareness. The combination of low ceilings, reduced visibility, and post-sunset operations significantly increases the risk of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), especially without instrument proficiency.