Incident Summary
An airplane departed on a cross-country flight without a filed flight plan. Radar data tracked the aircraft for approximately nine minutes before it entered a right-hand turn and descended into terrain. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time.
Flight Details
Prior to departure, the pilot received multiple weather briefings from a flight service station. During these briefings, the pilot was told that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended. Despite this advisory, the flight proceeded. The aircraft was owned by the passenger, who held a private pilot certificate and typically occupied the left front seat during flight. However, the seating positions of the two occupants at the time of the accident were not determined.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies. The investigation did not establish a probable cause for the accident.