Accident Overview
A pilot and a pilot-rated passenger conducted a local night flight after assessing the weather conditions. The pilot estimated the visibility at 5 miles. Shortly after takeoff, both individuals lost sight of the ground and the horizon.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts
The pilot reported that he felt the passenger/pilot grab the control yoke. When asked, the passenger stated he felt the airplane was turning. The pilot then noticed they were descending. The pilot-rated passenger described being disoriented and said the pilot thought they should descend a little. They were descending when the airplane struck the lake, and they did not see it coming. The passenger made no mention of interfering with the controls. Neither pilot held an instrument rating.
Impact and Witness Observations
The airplane impacted a frozen lake, skidded approximately 300 feet, and then fell through the ice. A witness reported that the visibility was 2 miles in fog at the time of the accident.