Accident Details
The accident occurred during a visual approach to an airport. The pilot was descending over water on the left base leg, approximately 100 ft above the water's surface, when the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with no forward visibility.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, he looked outside his left window to gauge the airplane's altitude and saw "black waves of water approaching extremely rapidly." He tried to pull back on the yoke to initiate a climb, but the nosewheel contacted the water. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause (Official Findings)
The pilot's delayed response to initiate a go-around during a night visual approach over water after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of forward visibility and subsequent impact with the water.