Flight Planning
The student pilot obtained an in-person weather briefing from the local flight service station (FSS) prior to departure for a solo cross-country flight between two islands. The printed weather information depicted visual flight rule (VFR) conditions along the planned route. The flight was the student's first solo cross-country; he had flown the same route with his flight instructor one week earlier. According to the flight instructor, the student planned to fly at 3,500 feet msl. Most of the flight was over open ocean along the north shore of an island with rugged mountainous terrain rising to elevations up to 4,961 feet msl.
Weather Briefings
While the student obtained weather information, the flight instructor also received a weather briefing from the FSS via telephone. A review of the recorded conversation showed that current and forecast weather conditions were above VFR minimums, and no recommendation discouraging VFR flight was provided.
Flight Details
Radar data showed that the student descended from 2,200 feet msl to as low as 1,000 feet msl as the airplane traveled along the planned route. Two military pilots flying helicopters in the opposite direction on the same route, one of whom observed the accident airplane, reported that at the student's altitude, he would eventually encounter instrument meteorological conditions. They described weather as scattered clouds at 700 feet agl, broken clouds at 1,000 feet agl, precipitation, and visibilities between 3 and 5 miles.
Accident Sequence
Radar data indicated the airplane climbed to about 1,500 feet msl before turning south toward higher terrain on the coast. According to the flight instructor, the student had been instructed to turn back to the departure airport if he could not see the next visual checkpoint.
Wreckage and Investigation
The wreckage was located at the 1,500-foot level of a steeply rising mountain. No preaccident anomalies were noted with the aircraft. Steep mountains separated the accident site from the closest weather reporting facility, which was 11 miles away. At that facility, when the accident flight passed, conditions were few clouds at 800 feet agl, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet agl, broken clouds at 5,500 feet agl, and visibility 10 miles.