What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot of this Beechcraft C24 was being operated under CFR 14 part 91. The pilot reported that he observed lighting ahead of his aircraft and was attempting to avoid the thunderstorm at night when he inadvertently entered IMC conditions. He reported heavy turbulence and rain. While attempting to maintain control of the aircraft on instruments, the aircraft struck the ground in a nearly level attitude. The pilot stated that he was not aware that he was near the surface because he was so distracted in attempting control in instrument conditions. The pilot was not instrument rated. The aircraft was destroyed and one passenger and the pilot had minor injuries. No fire resulted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT OF THIS BEECHCRAFT C24 WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER CFR 14 PART 91. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED LIGHTING AHEAD OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE THUNDERSTORM AT NIGHT WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS. HE REPORTED HEAVY TURBULENCE AND RAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT ON INSTRUMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NEARLY LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT HE WAS NEAR THE SURFACE BECAUSE HE WAS SO DISTRACTED IN ATTEMPTING CONTROL IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND ONE PASSENGER AND THE PILOT HAD MINOR INJURIES. NO FIRE RESULTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.