Accident Overview
The accident involved a private pilot employed as a state fish and wildlife protection officer. The pilot continued visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), lost control, and crashed while attempting to execute a 180-degree turn to return to VFR conditions.
Flight Details
Departure occurred more than eight hours prior to the accident from the pilot's home base. The crash took place approximately two hours before sunset, about 14 nautical miles from that home base. No weather briefing was obtained either before departure or during the flight, despite weather information being available at the departure point and en route.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a limitation prohibiting night flight. He was not rated for instrument flight, and the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight.
Conclusion
The pilot's actions of continuing VFR into IFR conditions and subsequent loss of control during a 180-degree turn led to the crash.