Background
A private pilot, who was not instrument rated, had originally planned to fly to Clarksville, Tennessee. However, adverse weather conditions at Clarksville prompted the pilot to divert to Waverly, Tennessee.
Flight Events
Prior to the flight, the pilot contacted the Nashville Automated Flight Service Station twice—at about 2200 and again at about 0100—for weather briefings. During each brief, the pilot limited the request by asking only for the visibility reported at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. At both times, Fort Campbell was reporting visibility less than three miles with fog. Shortly after 0130, the pilot initiated VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The aircraft was last seen on radar at approximately 0155 near the accident site, circling at about 1600 feet mean sea level.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had cartwheeled—impacting left wing first, then the nose, followed by the right wing—before coming to rest against a tree line. A further examination did not find evidence of mechanical malfunction, and there was no evidence of pilot impairment or incapacitation.