THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL AT ABOUT 1500 FT MSL IN A 50 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD ENCOUNTEREDWEATHER ON A NIGHT VFR FLT. HE WAS ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE ACFT FOR A SCHEDULED CLUB FLT THE NEXT MORNING. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AN EARLY AM DEPARTURE BUT WAS DOUBTFUL OF THE MORNING WEATHER AND HE MADE THE NIGHT DEPARTURE EVEN THOUGH VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HIS ROUTE OF FLT WAS BASICALLY NORTH AND THE CRASH OCCURRED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WITNESSES IN THE AREA HEARD AN ACFT AROUND MIDNIGHT. IT WAS RAINY AND FOGGY AT THE TIME. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 40 MILES SE OF DEPARTURE POINT. DESTINATION WAS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..OBSCURATION

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..TURBULENCE

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..RAIN

Contributing Factors

LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT

Index for Jan1984 | Index of months