Incident Details
The pilot, who held an instrument rating, departed on a night cross-country flight. According to the investigation, the flight was conducted into deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot did not file a flight plan, did not obtain a weather briefing, and the aircraft's transponder was inoperative. A hand-held GPS was reported to be onboard the aircraft.
When the pilot failed to arrive at the intended destination, a search was initiated. The airplane was located two weeks later on the side of a mountain. The aircraft had impacted rising terrain and came to rest in an inverted position.
Investigation Findings
Investigators found no evidence of pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction with either the engine or the airframe. Witnesses in the area reported low clouds, fog, and rain near the time of the accident.