Accident Overview
The airplane was cruising at 16,500 feet at night when radar and radio contact were lost. The pilot made no distress radio calls. Recorded radar data showed the airplane in a left descending turn. Other airplanes in the area were deviating around weather. Ground witnesses heard the airplane prior to impact and reported rain.
Pilot Information
The pilot began flying lessons in March and received his multi-engine rating in June. He had a total of 142 hours of flight time, including 25 hours in the accident make and model and 9 hours of total night time. The pilot was not instrument rated.
Weather and Witnesses
Ground witnesses reported hearing the airplane before impact and stated that rain was falling. Other aircraft were observed navigating around weather in the vicinity, indicating the presence of instrument meteorological conditions at the time.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the improper decision by the non-instrument-rated pilot to attempt VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and subsequent inadvertent spiral and collision with the ground. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's lack of total flight experience, his lack of flight time in the accident make and model, and his overconfidence in his own ability.