20020127001269A

(-23) The non instrument rated private pilot received a weather briefing at approximately 1140 UTC on January 27, 2002. He was informed of instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions at his departure airport of Alexandria, MN (axn). The weather briefer told him to call back at a time closer to his planned departure time for an update. There is no record of the pilot receiving another briefing. At approximately 1800 UTC, the pilot was helped with obtaining weather conditions at the local FBO by a certified flight instructor via computer. The instructor informed the pilot of IFR conditions numerous times and advised him not to depart. At approximately 1820 UTC, the pilot taxied out to runway 31 and departed. Witnesses stated they saw the aircraft climb into the clouds shortly after takeoff. Around five minutes later, the witnesses heard the aircraft, then saw it descend out of the clouds over the airport. The aircraft then banked sharply to the left and struck the ground. (.19) on January 27, 2002, at 1247 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N4002B, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with the terrain at the Chandler Field Airport (axn), Alexandria, Minnesota. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his single passenger were fatally injured. The flight had departed axn at approximately 1230 and had the intended destination of the lenawee county airport (adg), adrian, Michigan. A witness to the accident, a certified flight instructor, reported in a written statement that he conversed with the pilot of N4002B prior to the departure of the accident airplane. The witness stated that he discussed the current weather conditions and asked if the accident pilot was instrument rated. The witness reported, "(the accident pilot) replied that he was not (instrument rated) but that he just needed to take the checkride." The witness stated, "I helped (the accident pilot) check the weather on the computer, (the accident pilot) was well aware of the prevailing conditions. I proceeded to tell him that he could not legally file a flight plan or fly in these conditions. I advised him that I could not let him fly in these conditions." The witness reported that at approximately 1220 the accident airplane taxied from the ramp and proceeded to runway 31. The witness stated, "I made repeated calls over UNICOM to N4002B but got no response." The witness reported that the accident airplane made a radio call indicating his intentions of taking off on runway 31. The witness stated, "after his radio call I made one last call over UNICOM and advised him to be aware of freezing fog and sleet that was falling at the time and wished them a safe trip." The witness reported that approximately five minutes after the departure of N4002B, "... Someone keyed their mike and we heard heavy breathing and cussing over the radio." The witness stated that, "shortly thereafter (a co-worker) asked if I heard something, we both looked out the window to see (the accident aircraft) descend out of the clouds over the blue hangers across the runway. The aircraft was heading toward the (fixed based operator) building, when the pilot saw the building he banked to the left rather steeply. (A co-worker) and I headed outside to see where the aircraft was going and about that time we heard a loud thump and the engine noise ceased."