Flight Details
The pilot, a non-instrument rated private pilot, departed on a solo cross-country flight. He did not file a flight plan nor obtain an FAA weather briefing prior to departure.
Accident Sequence
During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted terrain. The collision occurred near the top of a ridge at an elevation of approximately 1,800 feet, with the aircraft on a heading of about 150 degrees. The wreckage was confined to a small area, and the aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
Weather Observations
A witness in the area estimated the sky condition at the time as about 300 feet overcast. However, the actual weather at the accident site was not verified.
Wreckage
The aircraft was destroyed during the impact. The wreckage was concentrated in a small area on sparsely wooded terrain.