Accident Overview
A pilot reported that after a routine instrument flight rules (IFR) return flight, he canceled his IFR clearance and initiated a visual descent to land at his home airport. The airport was experiencing foggy conditions, with visibility reported by witnesses as less than 100 feet. The pilot stated that he entered a tighter-than-normal traffic pattern to avoid fog at the approach end of the runway.
Flight Path and Impact
According to GPS data, the aircraft performed a spiraling descent in the vicinity of the base leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot indicated that the flight was routine until the base leg, when he suddenly felt an impact. He noted that having the runway environment in sight while not seeing the surrounding terrain led him to believe he was on or near the glide path, when in fact he was much lower, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left side of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported 15 miles north of the airport included a 100-foot ceiling and half-mile visibility due to fog. Witnesses near the accident airport described the fog as "heavy" with visibility "less than 100 feet."