What happened
While conducting an IFR cross-country flight, the pilot requested a course correction and a lower altitude. Air traffic control subsequently cleared the aircraft to descend and maintain 17,000 feet. The pilot then requested further descent to either 13,000 feet or 11,000 feet, and was cleared to 13,000 feet.
After observing a break in the cloud layer, the pilot requested to cancel his IFR flight plan, stating an intention to fly a large circle to descend under the scattered clouds. The controller approved the request to cancel the IFR flight plan. During a circling descent, radar contact with the aircraft was lost. The wreckage was later discovered approximately 45 miles from the location of the last radar contact.
Findings
Records from the pilot's logbook indicated he had accumulated 37.3 hours in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions and 82.0 hours in simulated instrument meteorological conditions. According to information provided by the pilot's son, while the pilot would fly IFR flight plans to maintain proficiency with procedures and controller phraseology, he generally avoided flying in actual instrument meteorological conditions.