What happened
The aircraft was en route on a business flight when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions. A ground witness observed the aircraft flying in and out of clouds amidst snow showers shortly before the accident occurred. Local residents reported hearing the engine as the aircraft passed low overhead, then saw it just before impact in a steep nose-down attitude with the left wing low.
Witnesses reported that large wet snow flakes were falling at the time, and visibility was approximately 1-1/2 miles in snow and fog. The pilot had received a weather briefing prior to departure; the area forecast included flight precautions for turbulence and icing conditions along the route.
The private pilot was not instrument rated. He had logged 124 hours of flight time, of which only 4.2 hours were logged as instrument time. Additionally, he had logged only 2.2 hours in complex aircraft, which included his checkout in this specific aircraft. The second occupant in the aircraft was also a pilot.
The investigation
Investigation details regarding mechanical examination are not provided in the source material.
Findings
Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of instrument rating and limited experience in complex aircraft and instrument flight. The weather conditions included snow showers, fog, reduced visibility, and potential icing conditions. The pilot had received a briefing noting these hazards but proceeded into conditions requiring instrument flight capabilities he did not possess.
Safety message
Pilots without instrument ratings should carefully evaluate weather forecasts for turbulence and icing conditions along their route. Limited experience in complex aircraft and instrument flight may impair decision-making when encountering deteriorating weather.