FREDERICKSBURG, PA, USA
N74312
GRUMMAN AA-5B
A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN OR OBTAINING AN FAA WEATHER BRIEFING. DURING FLIGHT, HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON SPARCELY WOODED TERRAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1800 FT ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 150 DEG. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING IMPACT; WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA. A WITNESS OF THE WEATHER IN THE AREA ESTIMATED THE SKY CONDITION WAS ABOUT 300 FT OVERCAST. WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS NOT VERIFIED.
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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