What happened
During a formation flight involving two aircraft, the pilot of the trailing plane was positioned approximately one mile behind the lead aircraft. The pilot of the lead plane communicated via radio that visibility was decreasing and that they were initiating a 180-degree left turn to depart the area. Following this communication, the trailing pilot lost visual contact with the lead aircraft. In an attempt to maneuver, the pilot executed a shallow right climbing turn, during which the terrain began to rise. The pilot briefly entered cloud cover and subsequently struck trees that were not visible prior to impact. The accident resulted in substantial damage to both wings of the aircraft. No mechanical issues or failures were reported as contributing to the incident.
Findings
At the time of the accident, the pilot reported a temperature of 60°F with visibility of 8 miles and ceilings at 1,500 feet. Nearby meteorological observations indicated light rain, a temperature of 54°F, and a broken ceiling at 500 feet. The primary factor in the accident was the loss of visual contact with the lead aircraft while maneuvering in terrain that was obscured by clouds.