Accident Sequence
During a night visual flight rules (VFR) approach, witnesses observed the airplane beginning a turn to base leg. The aircraft then entered a spin and struck the ground. The impact forces demolished the airplane. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported that the airplane started a turn to the base leg of the approach pattern. Subsequently, the aircraft spun and continued in the spin until it hit the ground.
Flight Origin and Purpose
The flight originated in Chester, South Carolina, on the day of the accident. The pilot had obtained his private pilot license on March 24, 1990, and had flown the airplane to South Carolina on March 28, 1990. He was en route back to Arizona to visit his sick father.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had accumulated a total flying time of 106 hours. Of these, only 6.7 hours were flown at night. He held a private pilot certificate.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane was demolished as a result of the impact with the ground.