Pilot and Flight Details
A private pilot with 2,800 hours of flight experience and no instrument rating was familiar with the airplane and the planned route. Before departure, he observed dark overcast sky conditions in the direction of his intended trip and indicated that if the weather deteriorated en route, he would return to the departure airport.
Departure and Radar Contact
The pilot took off under visual flight rules (VFR) and headed east. Eight minutes later, he contacted radar and requested flight following service toward his easterly destination. Two minutes after that, the airplane was identified on radar. Two minutes further into the flight, radar contact was lost.
Radar Data and Weather Conditions
The final four minutes of recorded radar data showed the airplane climbing from 2,600 feet to 3,500 feet MSL and turning 90 degrees left from an easterly heading to a northerly course. Nearby weather reporting facilities indicated that the cloud base was 3,800 feet MSL and the cloud tops were 5,700 feet MSL. The crash site was at an elevation of 4,750 feet MSL.
Investigation Outcome
The investigation did not specify a probable cause for the accident.