Incident Summary
A pilot flying to his home in Willits, California, experienced deteriorating weather conditions during the flight. According to his written statement, he initially continued toward his destination to assess whether it was possible to land. As the weather further worsened, he decided to turn back.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that while executing a 180-degree climbing turn, visibility deteriorated significantly. During this maneuver, his aircraft struck trees in mountainous terrain. The pilot provided no additional details regarding the flight's origin, aircraft type, or timeline.
Weather Conditions
The pilot described encountering deteriorating weather throughout the flight, which ultimately led to his decision to reverse course. The worsening visibility was cited as a key factor in the collision with trees.
Accident Sequence
As the pilot initiated the climbing turn to reverse direction, the already low visibility dropped further. The aircraft subsequently impacted trees on mountainous terrain. No further information about the aircraft or occupants was included in the source.