Accident Overview
During an instructional night VFR cross country flight, the airplane departed controlled flight and subsequently impacted the terrain. A subsequent examination of the aircraft and the pilots did not reveal any incapacitation of the flight crew or mechanical anomalies in the airplane.
Weather Conditions
Marginal VFR conditions were reported in the area of the accident site at the time of the flight. The weather included cloud bases at 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL) with cloud tops extending above 30,000 feet. A forecast had indicated light to moderate turbulence below 11,000 feet.
Investigation Findings
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the loss of control. No evidence of pilot impairment or aircraft system failures was found. The exact sequence of events that caused the airplane to depart controlled flight remains undetermined from the available information.