What happened
During a night cross-country flight, the pilot reported finding a break in the cloud layer while approximately 9 miles south of the intended destination. Following this observation, the pilot canceled the instrument flight rules flight plan.
Radar data tracked the unidentified aircraft performing a 360-degree descending left turn, dropping from 5,800 feet to 4,700 feet, before radar contact was lost. The aircraft subsequently impacted trees and rising terrain at an elevation of 3,896 feet. At the time of the accident, weather at the airport, which sits at an elevation of 2,857 feet, consisted of a broken cloud layer at 1,900 feet.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical deficiencies.