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Sidney, OH
A PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED WITH OUT A FLIGHT PLAN IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR A DESTINATION 20 MILES NORTH. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND FOLLOWING A COUNTRY ROAD LEADING TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ASKED FOR FIELD ELEVATION ON UNICOM. THE AIRPORT MANAGER RESPONDED AND INFORMED HIM THE FIELD HAD ZERO VISIBILITY AND CEILING. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRPLANE OVERFLY THE FIELD FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF A CRASH. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND 250 YEARDS FROM THE FIELD, WHERE IT COLIDED WITH TREES ATOP A STEEPLY RISING BLUFF.
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR DIRECTIVES AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY.
A PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED WITH OUT A FLIGHT PLAN IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR A DESTINATION 20 MILES NORTH. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND FOLLOWING A COUNTRY ROAD LEADING TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ASKED FOR FIELD ELEVATION ON UNICOM. THE AIRPORT MANAGER RESPONDED AND INFORMED HIM THE FIELD HAD ZERO VISIBILITY AND CEILING. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRPLANE OVERFLY THE FIELD FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF A CRASH. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND 250 YEARDS FROM THE FIELD, WHERE IT COLIDED WITH TREES ATOP A STEEPLY RISING BLUFF.