Accident Overview
An aircraft departed Palm Springs Airport at approximately 2335 hours on a flight to Lompoc, California. The following morning at around 0930 hours, personnel at a nearby Air Force base received an ELT signal, initiating a search. The aircraft was located at about 1310 hours, having impacted a hillside approximately 5 miles southeast of the departure airport. The point of impact was at the 1487-foot elevation level, roughly 50 feet from the top of the hill.
Flight Details
The pilot began the flight after working from 1500 hours to 2330 hours on the same day. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan but did not activate it. The aircraft was observed taking off from a closed runway at Palm Springs Airport. The pilot had logged 2 hours of actual instrument time. Notably, the NDB-B approach plate for Lompoc, California was found clipped open in the aircraft.
Witness Reports
Witnesses in the area reported that the mountain tops near the accident site were obscured with near zero visibility. The conditions likely impacted the pilot's ability to see terrain.
Conclusion
No probable cause was stated in the source material. The investigation report provides factual details of the event without assigning causal factors.