THE PILOT DEPARTED LAWTON, OKLAHOMA AT 0902 LOCAL TIME ON A FLIGHT TO INSPECT MINERAL PROPERTY. AT ABOUT 0931, THE PILOT CONTACTED FT. SILL APPROACH CONTROL AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO LAWTON. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY A HEADING OF 320 DEGREES. AFTER FLYING THAT HEADING FOR ABOUT SIX MILES. THE PILOT ASKED FOR AND WAS GIVEN THE FT. SILL WEATHER. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WHEN QUERIED, THE PILOT REPLIED HE WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS AND TURNED INTENTIONALLY. EARLIER, THE RADAR CONTROLLER HAD RECEIVED REPORTS OF A SCUD LAYER SOUTHEAST OF LAWTON AND ASSUMED THE PILOT WAS VFR ON TOP. THE CONTROLLER PROVIDED A HEADING OF 260 DEGREES AND ADVISED THIS SHOULD TAKE HIM INTO A CLEAR AREA. AT 0941, THE AIRCRAFT RETURN DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. THE PLANE CRASHED SOUTHEAST OF LAWTON IN A WHEAT FIELD ON LEVEL TERRAIN. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 300 FT AFTER IMPACT. AN OBSERVER ON A RESCUE HELICOPTER REPORTED A CEILING OF 100 TO 300 FT AND VISIBILITY OF 1/4 TO 1/2 MILE.

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

WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..FOG

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..OPEN FIELD

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