What happened
The flight began with a critical warning from the Flight Service Station (FSS). Personnel personally briefed the student pilot on the weather conditions en route for this night flight. The FSS explicitly stated that Visual Flight Rules (VFR) were not recommended due to deteriorating conditions. Despite this advice, the pilot continued the journey.
During the flight, the pilot made contact with the airplane's co-owner at the first stop. He reported that he had been flying around storms, indicating he was already navigating hazardous weather. At a subsequent stop, the situation escalated as the pilot contacted a local policeman. He admitted to being lost and asked for directions.
When the airplane failed to arrive at its intended destination, authorities initiated a search operation. The aircraft was eventually located in a cornfield. It had touched down on its left wingtip and subsequently cartwheeled, causing significant damage. At the time of the accident, weather conditions approximately 18 nautical miles east were severe. The ceiling was measured at 100 feet broken and 1500 feet overcast. Visibility was reduced to 3 miles in fog. The temperature was 57 degrees Fahrenheit, with winds from 360 degrees at 6 knots. The altimeter setting was 30.12 inches of mercury.
No record of the pilot's flight time could be located, leaving the exact duration of the flight unknown.