Background
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a limitation prohibiting night flight. He had accumulated 99 total hours of flight experience, of which 50 hours were logged 13 years before the accident. His night flight experience totaled 3.2 hours.
Flight Sequence
The accident flight was a cross-country trip covering 528 nautical miles. The pilot departed his first and second intended fuel stops at 2340 and 0300, respectively.
Weather Conditions
An AIRMET issued at 2245 warned of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and mountain obscuration along the latter segment of the intended route. IMC was consistently reported at the planned final destination from departure time until the accident. Witnesses at the accident site reported mist, rain, and darkness at the time of the accident.
Wreckage and GPS Data
Review of data retrieved from a handheld GPS unit found in the wreckage showed that the pilot entered a left 360-degree turn, followed by a descending right 360-degree turn, which continued until the airplane impacted terrain. The final flight path was consistent with an entry into IMC and subsequent loss of control due to spatial disorientation.