What happened
An air traffic controller at the departure airport observed the aircraft land and noted that the pilot departed again approximately 10 to 15 minutes later. At the time of the arrival and subsequent departure, it was dark and weather conditions were reported as being just above visual flight rule (VFR) minimums. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.
Radar track data showed the aircraft flying a magnetic heading of approximately 131 degrees at an altitude of about 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The data indicated that the aircraft was in a left, descending turn before it was lost from radar contact. The accident site was located within an area of marginal VFR conditions, bordering an area characterized by instrument flight rule (IFR) conditions.
Weather observations from a station approximately 100 miles east-northeast of the accident site indicated multiple freezing levels, with the first occurring between 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet above ground level (agl) and a second at approximately 4,746 feet msl.
The investigation
A post-crash inspection of the aircraft revealed no preexisting anomalies.