Incident Overview
A pilot reported encountering a dark cloud while flying at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl). In response, the pilot initiated a descent to 4,500 feet msl through a perceived "hole" in the clouds. Upon emerging from the cloud, the pilot realized that the airplane was on a collision course with trees. The pilot pulled back on the yoke, but the airplane subsequently impacted the trees and terrain.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left wing and empennage had separated from the airplane. This separation occurred after the impact with trees and terrain.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. No other contributing factors were identified in the pilot's statement.