What happened
Shortly after takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the aircraft climbed to 6,000 feet. At that altitude, the pilot received clearance to continue climbing to 7,000 feet and to execute a right turn to a heading of 180 degrees.
However, radar data indicated that the aircraft performed a left turn to a heading of 220 degrees instead of the assigned course. Shortly after this deviation, radar contact was lost at an altitude of 6,900 feet. A witness reported observing the aircraft emerge from the cloud base in a high-speed dive. The wreckage was subsequently located 5 miles north of the departure airport.
Prior to the accident, the pilot had attempted a Biyearly Flight Review (BFR) on February 7, but the flight instructor (CFI) determined the pilot was not competent, leading to a rescheduled review on February 14. Following the February 14 flight, the CFI informed the pilot that their instrument flying skills were poor and rescheduled the review for March 28. The pilot had been cautioned against flying in IMC until the BFR was successfully completed. Additionally, the CFI noted an observed deterioration of the pilot's skills over several years.