Accident Overview
A student pilot conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight was fatally injured, along with one passenger, when the airplane collided with trees and terrain. The accident occurred after the student pilot encountered instrument flight conditions. According to the investigation, neither a flight plan was filed nor was a weather briefing obtained prior to the flight.
Weather and Flight Conditions
At the time of the accident, visibility was reported as 2 miles in smoke and haze at a reporting station located 13 miles east of the crash site. These conditions were recorded at 1855 and 1955 hours. The student pilot's decision to fly under VFR in such conditions led to an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Pilot Experience
The student pilot had accumulated a total of 2 hours of simulated instrument flight time. This limited experience in instrument flying may have contributed to the pilot's inability to safely navigate the deteriorating weather conditions.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted that the flight was conducted without a filed flight plan or a weather briefing. The airplane's collision with trees and terrain resulted in fatal injuries to both the pilot and the passenger. No other details about the aircraft, registration, or operator were provided in the source.