Flight Path and Radar Data
Radar data showed the airplane traveling southwest at 8,700 feet. At 1727:42, it began a right turn. The altitude indicated 8,500 feet at 1727:47, then descended to 8,300 feet at 1727:51, and 5,300 feet at 1728:05. No further radar returns were observed.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane break up in flight before the main wreckage impacted a sidewalk. All major portions of the airplane were located within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of the main wreckage.
Weather Conditions
Weather information obtained for the flight indicated an area of instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions in the immediate vicinity of the accident site. A larger area of marginal visual meteorological conditions (MVMC) surrounded that IFR area.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot was not instrument rated. There was no record that the pilot had received a pre-flight weather briefing prior to the flight. The pilot's estimated total flight experience was about 400 hours. He had logged 2 hours of 'actual' and 36 hours of 'simulated' instrument flight experience; all of which had been logged about 10 years prior to the accident.
The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed 13 months prior to the accident.