Accident Overview
An aircraft struck trees and then the ground during flight in adverse weather, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. The flight occurred without a recorded pre-flight briefing or a filed flight plan.
Circumstances
Witnesses in the area reported hearing an aircraft flying at low altitude, followed by a loud thud. No further details about the flight's origin or destination were available.
Weather Conditions
At 2128 Eastern Standard Time, weather recorded 16 miles north at Sarasota, Florida, included 200-foot partial obscuration, visibility of 3 miles in fog. Individuals near the accident site described heavy, patchy ground fog in the area.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather and failure to maintain proper altitude, resulting in collision with trees and terrain. Contributing factors included inadequate preflight planning, dark night conditions, fog, obscuration, impaired visual and aural perception, and the pilot's lack of total instrument time.