Accident Summary
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an in-flight loss of control. The accident occurred during a night cross-country flight conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) by a non-instrument rated private pilot.
Flight Details
The pilot obtained a pre-flight weather briefing, during which the briefer informed him of forecast and reported instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions along the proposed route. Radar track data indicated that the flight proceeded approximately 65 nautical miles north of the course proposed in the briefing. During the flight, the pilot contacted Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center and requested flight following. The controller informed the pilot that radar contact could not be maintained in the area and at the airplane's operating altitude, and suggested a climb to a higher altitude to permit radar service. The pilot replied, "I've got clouds above me" and stated that he would continue under VFR.
Weather Conditions
Surface weather observations along the route indicated deteriorating cloud ceilings. The reported cloud ceiling 65 nautical miles south of the accident site and along the flight path was 3,600 feet above ground level (agl) (5,000 feet mean sea level (msl)). Twenty-five nautical miles south of the site, the ceiling was 1,400 feet agl (3,100 feet msl). Fifteen nautical miles east of the site, the ceiling was 800 feet agl (2,000 feet msl).
Radar Data and Final Maneuvers
Radar altitude returns decreased from 3,400 feet msl to 2,100 feet msl during the final 65 nautical miles of the flight. Radar track data showed the airplane entered a right turn from a northbound course at 2,100 feet msl. The final radar contact occurred approximately 60 seconds later, depicting the airplane on a westbound course at 2,800 feet msl. During this climbing turn, the airplane's calibrated airspeed decreased to 41 knots, as calculated from radar track and winds aloft data. The published stall speed for the airplane in level flight with flaps up was 69 knots, increasing to 74 knots at 30 degrees of bank and 82 knots at 45 degrees of bank. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,581 feet.
Wreckage and Inspection
The wreckage was contained within the immediate vicinity of the impact point and was oriented on a southerly heading. First responders noted that the snow cover was undisturbed except in the immediate area of the airplane. A post-accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure.