Accident Overview
A non-instrument-rated pilot departed on a cross-country flight to Nevada. Before departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing that indicated multiple layers of clouds and moderate to severe turbulence along the route within an unstable air mass.
Flight History
En route, the pilot requested and received radar flight following service. Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, the pilot informed the radar controller of an intention to execute a 180-degree turn. Radar data showed that seconds after this transmission, the airplane began a rapid descent. Over the final 60 seconds of recorded flight, the airplane descended from 7,200 feet to 4,500 feet.
Impact and Wreckage
The airplane struck a hillside at an elevation of 3,400 feet MSL. Wreckage was distributed along a 150-foot-long path, approximately 0.11 mile from the last radar position.
Weather Conditions
Airborne and ground-based witnesses in the area reported an overcast sky with cloud bases near ground level and cloud tops exceeding 13,000 feet. Precipitation intensity varied from light sprinkles to heavy rain showers.