LIVERMORE, CA, USA
N2601X
PIPER PA-28-161
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF WITH A SVFR CLEARANCE, INTENDING TO FLY HOME. WEATHER AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT (ELEV 397 FT) WAS: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, ESTIMATED 900 FT BROKEN, 3000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 4 MILES WITH RAIN. DURING DEPARTURE, THE VISIBILITY DECREASED TO ONE MILE, AND THE PILOT BECAME UNCERTAIN OF HER POSITION IN DETERIORATING WEATHER. SHE ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN AND INITIATED A CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN APROXIMATELY 8 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2800 FT.
INADVERTENT FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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