Accident Narrative
According to the pilot's report, the accident flight was a night cross-country operation. While the pilot was listening to the automated weather service broadcast for the planned destination, a gradual loss of altitude occurred. The pilot was unaware of this descent. Subsequently, the pilot chose to divert to an alternate airport and initiated a turn toward that alternate. During the turn, the airplane continued to descend. Only after the turn did the pilot notice the significant altitude loss. In an attempt to arrest the descent, the pilot pulled back on the control yoke. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted a cornfield.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions affected the airplane during the accident sequence. As a safety recommendation, the pilot commented that "haze is deceptive," indicating that hazy conditions may have hindered accurate perception of altitude. The report did not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, location, or any injuries.