Flight Details
The pilot, who held an instrument rating and a private pilot certificate, intended to land at an uncontrolled airport at night. The airport had no instrument approaches. The airplane was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan above an overcast layer of clouds.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the pilot informed air traffic control (ATC) that he would attempt to find a "hole" in the overcast and execute a visual approach into the uncontrolled airport. After reporting that he could not locate a suitable hole, he requested and received an IFR clearance to a larger controlled airport.
En route to the controlled airport, the pilot informed ATC that he had found a hole and would attempt a visual approach to the uncontrolled airport. ATC issued a cruise clearance for 12,000 feet MSL. The pilot then descended at a rate of 2,280 feet per minute before the airplane impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 6,200 feet MSL.
Meteorological and Wreckage Examination
Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed near the accident site. No distress calls from the airplane were recorded. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions.