Accident Sequence
A witness reported hearing the airplane overfly a private airport at what sounded like a low altitude. The witness went outside and saw the airplane approximately one-quarter mile southeast of the airport, at 300 feet above ground level (AGL), in a steep left bank. The airplane then entered a spin, rotated one to one-and-a-half times, and impacted the ground.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot, who held an instrument rating, flew the airplane to a private ranch on the day prior to the accident. The pilot had purchased the airplane in August 1994. According to an insurance form dated May 14, 2001, the pilot had accumulated 1,081 flight hours in the accident airplane make and model.
Weather and Flight Planning
Concerned about deteriorating weather conditions, the pilot elected to depart the ranch one day earlier than originally planned. After departing, the pilot planned to return to the ranch via vehicle. Before departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing, during which visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended for the route of flight. The witness reported that the cloud base was approximately 500 feet AGL.
Examination
Post-accident examination of the airplane and its engines revealed no evidence of any pre-impact discrepancies.