What happened
A private pilot acquired an airplane and began a multi-leg journey toward his residence. After completing two legs of the trip, he stopped for the night at an intermediate location. The following morning, he departed under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
While navigating along an interstate highway, the pilot encountered fog that reduced visibility. In response to the deteriorating weather, he initiated a turn to reverse his course and return toward his previous position. During this maneuver, the aircraft collided with rising terrain, specifically hillsides, located approximately one-half mile from the highway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the collision with terrain. Examination of the flight path and weather conditions indicated that the pilot was operating in visual conditions initially but encountered fog during the flight. The aircraft struck the ground while attempting to turn back after encountering the low visibility conditions.