Accident Overview
A private pilot with 158 hours total flight time, including 2.6 hours of instrument flying experience, planned an 18 nautical mile night flight to visit a friend. The pilot was not instrument rated. The accident occurred at an uncontrolled airport during dark night conditions. Ground fog shrouded the airport and low-level clouds existed nearby, with an obscured sky.
Sequence of Events
The pilot made a low pass over the runway, likely in an attempt to land. The approach was aborted, and the airplane overflew the runway's end before initiating a go-around climb. According to an eyewitness, the airplane gained 150 to 200 feet of altitude and entered the base of the clouds. The witness then lost visual contact with the airplane. A few seconds later, the airplane reappeared, descending at approximately an 80-degree angle. The airplane crashed about 1,600 feet from the end of the runway.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had a total of 158 flight hours at the time of the accident. Instrument flying experience was limited to 2.6 hours. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating, which is required for flight in instrument meteorological conditions such as clouds.
Weather Conditions
The night of the accident was dark. The uncontrolled airport was affected by ground fog and nearby low-level clouds. The sky condition was reported as obscured, indicating that cloud layers prevented observation of the sky above.