Accident Overview
An airplane impacted water in approximately a 60-degree nose-down attitude. The flight took place at night under marginal VFR conditions. The pilot had made an unscheduled landing earlier, obtained a weather brief, and filed an IFR flight plan. VFR flight was not recommended.
Sequence of Events
About 30 minutes before the accident, air traffic control instructed the pilot to descend at pilot's discretion to 4,000 feet and report the airport in sight for a visual approach. The pilot acknowledged and descended to 4,000 feet, then made no further transmissions. Radar contact was lost about 11 nautical miles south of the airport at 3,800 feet MSL.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had approximately 12 hours of actual instrument time and about 50 hours of night flying time.
Weather Conditions
At 2153, the reported weather included: wind 200° at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, light rain showers, few clouds at 1,000 feet, broken ceiling at 1,800 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet, temperature 52°F, dew point 50°F, altimeter 29.95 inHg.
Wreckage and Examination
The wreckage path extended approximately 310 feet, oriented north, in water two to three feet deep. Examination of the airplane revealed no pre-existing mechanical anomalies.