Accident Summary
On February 24, 2017, about 0639 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR-20, registration N255JB, was destroyed when it struck terrain shortly after departing from Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6) in Daytona Beach, Florida. The private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the personal flight destined for Lumberton Regional Airport (LBT) in Lumberton, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Statement
During preflight, the pilot stated he did not observe any low clouds and could see stars above. He intended to depart under visual flight rules (VFR) and open his IFR flight plan after reaching 1,000 feet. At sunrise, he departed VFR. While retracting flaps on initial climbout, he encountered IMC. He said, "I was not able to see the low fog until I encountered it." He turned right to avoid potential traffic on final approach to the opposite runway and then suddenly saw a tree. He maneuvered to avoid the tree but recalled being on the ground, upside down in the airplane. He had not yet begun transitioning to instrument flying when he encountered IMC.
Aircraft and Examination
The four-seat, low-wing, tricycle-gear aircraft was manufactured in 2000 and equipped with a Continental IO-360 engine. Its most recent inspection was completed in March 2017, at which time the airplane had 1,985 flight hours. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on July 31, 2017. He reported 790 total flight hours, including about 80 hours of actual instrument time.
An FAA inspector examined the accident site. The engine was separated from the airframe; wings, cockpit, fuselage, and empennage sustained extensive impact damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at Daytona Beach Regional Airport, about 7 nautical miles north of the accident site, at 0627 included scattered clouds at 500 feet, wind from 340° at 7 knots, visibility 6 statute miles, mist, temperature 19°C, dew point 19°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.79 inches of mercury.
Spatial Disorientation
According to FAA Advisory Circular AC 60-4A, "Pilot's Spatial Disorientation," tests with qualified instrument pilots indicated that it can take as long as 35 seconds to establish full control by instruments after loss of visual reference with the earth's surface. The circular states that surface references and the natural horizon may become obscured even when visibility exceeds VFR minimums, and that inability to perceive the natural horizon or surface references is common during flights over water, at night, in sparsely populated areas, and in low-visibility conditions.