Accident Overview
The accident occurred while the pilot was conducting a GPS approach. According to the pilot's report, he was cleared for the approach and descended through cloud cover. He broke out of the clouds at an altitude of 1,800 feet. Subsequently, he entered a left-hand traffic pattern. His final recollection was turning from the downwind leg to the base leg. He then became unconscious and awoke to find himself inside the crashed airplane, which was on fire. The airplane was destroyed in the accident.
Investigation
Investigators performed a detailed examination of the airplane's systems. No anomalies were found in the airframe, engine, or avionics. This indicates that there were no mechanical or system failures that could have contributed to the accident.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident, as determined by the investigation, was controlled flight into terrain for unknown reasons. This means that the aircraft was flying normally under control when it struck the ground, and investigators could not identify any specific factor that caused the pilot to fly into terrain.