Incident Overview
A general aviation aircraft departed Novato, California, bound for Lakeport, California. The pilot had access to a vehicle that could have been used to drive to the destination but chose to fly. Before departure, the pilot did not obtain a weather briefing nor file a flight plan. Weather conditions at the departure point were reported as marginally VFR (Visual Flight Rules).
Inflight Weather Information
Shortly after departure and again while nearing the destination, the pilot received inflight weather information from the Ukiah Flight Service Station (FSS). The pilot acknowledged the reports of bad weather along the route of flight.
Witness Report
A witness near the accident site reported snow, strong winds, low ceilings, and worsening conditions at the time of the accident.
Accident Details
The aircraft collided with a shallow ridge in low mountainous terrain while in an upright, slightly descending attitude with a right wing down. The elevation of the ground impact site was approximately 2,450 feet. Cloud bases at Ukiah were reported at approximately 2,600 feet MSL near the time of the accident.
Investigation
The accident investigation did not state a probable cause.