What happened
The pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, decided to conduct a flight without first obtaining a pre-flight weather briefing. During the operation, the aircraft encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot subsequently detected icing conditions and altered the intended destination.
While maneuvering on final approach to the airport, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The airplane then collided with trees. Weather sequence reports indicated that the area was experiencing freezing rain and ice pellets at the time of the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the operational decisions made by the pilot and the environmental conditions present during the flight. The lack of a weather briefing meant the pilot was unaware of the forecasted icing and IMC risks prior to departure.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to operate in known adverse weather without proper preparation. The presence of freezing rain and ice pellets created hazardous flight conditions that overwhelmed the aircraft's control capabilities during the final phase of flight.