Incident Overview
A float plane operating under visual flight rules (VFR) at night impacted terrain near San Angelo, Texas, while en route to Nasworthy Lake. The aircraft was cruising below clouds at an elevation of approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) when it struck the ground.
Pilot Statements
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to maintain an altitude of 3,500 feet MSL and encountered strong downdrafts. However, during earlier conversations with an FAA coordinator, the pilot indicated that he was trying to maintain a lower altitude, approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL). The impact reportedly occurred while the aircraft was flying at about 90 knots.
Weather Conditions
The pilot continued the flight into deteriorating weather conditions. No further details about the specific weather phenomena were provided in the source.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted under VFR at night, and the destination was Nasworthy Lake near San Angelo, Texas. The aircraft was a float plane, but no registration, model, or engine count was specified. The time of day was not explicitly stated beyond "night."
Conclusion
The aircraft impacted terrain at an elevation of about 2,500 feet MSL while cruising below clouds. The source does not provide a probable cause for the accident.