Background
According to the investigation source, the pilot took off in instrument meteorological flight conditions. Shortly after departure, the pilot misinterpreted a series of air traffic control instructions, believing they were directed to his airplane when they were actually intended for another aircraft.
Flight Sequence
Subsequent callouts and responses between the pilot and ATC indicated confusion. At one point, the pilot stated, "I gotta get my act together here." Less than one minute later, the pilot reported "avionics problems." Approximately 40 seconds after that, in his last transmission, the pilot said he was "losin' it." The airplane then descended nose-down, exited the clouds, and impacted a house and the ground.
Aircraft Equipment
The airplane was equipped with a primary flight display (PFD) as well as separate backup instruments in case the display failed. The aircraft had approximately 98 hours of operation since manufacture and had a history of PFD failures. The pilot had previously practiced partial panel (no PFD) flight. Additionally, the airplane was equipped with a parachute system, which was not deployed during the flight.