What happened
Approximately 15 minutes after departing, the unidentified aircraft encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot, who was not instrument rated, subsequently lost control of the airplane, which impacted snow-covered terrain.
Prior to the cross-country flight, the pilot had obtained three standard weather briefings; two were received on the day before the accident and one on the morning of the event. These briefings included information regarding instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions along the planned route. Based on statements from a friend and the briefing conversation, the pilot intended to land the aircraft at an intermediate location prior to reaching the destination if weather conditions were not visual flight rules (VFR), with the plan to wait for improvement. Additionally, the pilot had informed the weather briefer of a requirement to be in Houston, Texas, by 7:00 PM on the day of the accident.
Radar data indicated that after departure, the aircraft traveled on a southeasterly heading. For the first 15 minutes of the flight, the airplane maintained a consistent heading and level altitude. During the final minute of flight, the aircraft's heading varied by several degrees, and it underwent rapid altitude changes, including a descent of 2,500 feet per minute, a climb of 3,000 feet per minute, and a subsequent descent of 1,300 feet per minute. The aircraft impacted the terrain in a nose-down attitude with the right wing low.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that there were no anomalies noted with the airframe or the engines.