What happened
The student pilot, operating his own aircraft, departed under visual flight rules (VFR) with the intention of completing a 45-minute solo cross-country flight. During the journey, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions and attempted to return to the departure airport. A witness observed the aircraft enter clouds, turn left, and collide with trees on upsloping mountainous terrain.
The investigation
Investigation revealed that the student pilot's certificate was not endorsed for solo or solo cross-country flying, indicating a lack of proper authorization for the flight.
Findings
Contributing factors included deteriorating weather conditions, the pilot's decision to continue flying into clouds, and the absence of proper endorsements for solo cross-country operations. The upsloping mountainous terrain also played a role in the collision.