Incident Overview
A flight from Waco to San Antonio ended when the aircraft impacted the ground at an altitude of approximately 1,250 feet above mean sea level (MSL) while in a cruise attitude. The pilot had been in contact with air traffic control throughout the entire flight.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed Waco at 2032 Central Standard Time, bound for San Antonio. During the preflight weather briefing, the pilot was advised that possible instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) could be expected along the flight route and that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended.
Communications
At 2131, the pilot contacted San Antonio Approach Control and was provided with local weather information, which indicated a ceiling of 1,000 feet broken. The controller offered an IFR clearance, but the pilot denied it. At 2135, the pilot was instructed to maintain VFR conditions. The pilot reported his altitude as 1,500 feet MSL.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted the ground at an elevation of about 1,250 feet MSL. The aircraft was in a cruise attitude at the time of impact.
Summary
The pilot had been informed of potential IMC and the recommendation against VFR flight, yet chose to depart VFR and later declined an IFR clearance. The aircraft descended from its reported altitude of 1,500 feet MSL to the ground at 1,250 feet MSL, consistent with flight into IMC.