Introduction
An accident occurred during a flight from Detroit Lakes (DTL), Minnesota, to Fergus Falls (FFM), Minnesota. The owner of the airplane had flown to DTL with the pilot so the owner could ferry another aircraft back to FFM. After an uneventful flight to DTL, both pilots checked the weather, which indicated an overcast ceiling of 800 feet and visibility of 7 miles at FFM.
Flight Sequence
The owner departed first in a Piper Seneca, followed by the pilot. During the flight, the pilot contacted the owner by radio, asking if he had climbed successfully; the owner confirmed. The pilot then remarked that the owner must be close to Fergus Falls, and the owner replied he was 11 miles away. The owner landed at 2000 hours and attempted to contact the pilot by radio while taxiing and later from the fixed base operator (FBO), but received no response.
Witness Account
A witness on a farm near the accident site reported hearing the airplane but being unable to see it due to clouds or fog. The witness stated that ground visibility was good. The airplane suddenly appeared out of the fog at about 150 feet altitude, spiraling sharply to the right and descending rapidly. The impact occurred within seconds.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the AWOS at FFM, 15 miles south of the site, reported overcast skies at 600 feet, visibility of 7 miles, temperature 21°F, dew point 14°F, winds from 150° at 12 knots, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies that could have contributed to the accident.