Accident Overview
A certificated private pilot was reported overdue while returning from a short cross-country flight to an airport located in an area with little ground illumination during darkness. The surrounding terrain consisted of mountains to the right and a lake to the left of the direction of flight.
Flight Sequence
On a moonless night, the airplane overflew the rural airport and made a left turn to enter the downwind portion of a VFR approach. The terrain and light conditions produced dark and featureless visual conditions.
Wreckage Discovery
The airplane was located the following day. It had struck terrain approximately half a mile from the destination airport while in a high-speed descending left turn.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate. No further details about the pilot's experience or qualifications were provided in the source material.