Flight Information
A non-instrument rated pilot departed Brooksville, Florida, enroute to Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Orlando, Florida. No flight plan was filed. It was not determined if the pilot received a weather briefing.
Weather Conditions
Weather at Brooksville 7 minutes before departure: few clouds at 600 feet, 2,000 feet overcast, light rain, visibility 9 miles. About 3 minutes after the accident, a special observation reported few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet, visibility 2 miles, heavy rain, and mist.
Witness Account
A witness living about a quarter-mile from the crash site heard the airplane flying over his house. The witness stated the airplane sounded very low, traveling east at full throttle. Less than a minute later, he heard a "thud" as the airplane hit the ground. He called 911 and searched for the airplane, finding the crash site about an hour later. The witness described the conditions as very dark and cloudy, with light rain that turned heavy.
Crash Site Examination
Examination of the crash site showed the airplane collided with trees and the ground while in a descending right turn. The debris line extended 140 feet on a heading of 170 degrees magnetic. No anomalies were found with the airframe, engine assembly, or accessories.