IAD97LA019

A friend flew the accident pilot to an airport to pick up the accident pilot's airplane. Before takeoff, the noninstrument-rated acident pilot had stated that he had not flown at night in over a year. The two pilots then departed in their respective airplanes, at night, to return to their home airport. Within minutes of their take off, the two airplanes encountered a snow squall. The lead pilot radioed the accident pilot and told him to return to the departure airport. After completion of his turn, the lead pilot saw what he thought was an airplane go underneath his airplane. The lead pilot radioed the accident pilot, concerned about his altitude. The lead pilot thought the accident pilot's response was, 'I'm lost, or I've lost it.' The lead pilot did not hear from the accident pilot again. A witness on the ground stated that there were high winds and a heavy snow squall in the area. He observed two airplanes coming from the east. One airplane turned and headed southwest, and the other turned over his neighbor's house, continued the turn, and was approximately 200 feet when it went into a steep angle and crashed. The witness stated that 'the motor was on full power the whole time.'

On November 11, 1996, at 1832 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150, N5627E, was destroyed after it impacted the ground from cruise flight south of Edgerton, Ohio. The certificated private pilot/owner was fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

A friend flew the private pilot from Walker-Rowe Airport, Waterloo, Indiana, to Williams County Airport, Bryan, Ohio, to pickup the private pilot's airplane. The two pilots planned to fly their airplanes back to Walker-Rowe Airport that same night. The mechanic, who had completed the annual inspection on the private pilot's airplane, stated that the private pilot mentioned to him that he had not flown at night for over a year, and that they were forced to fly around snow squalls during their flight to Williams County Airport that night.

Approximately 1815, the two pilots took off from Williams County Airport enroute to Walker-Rowe Airport. According to the friend who was in the lead airplane, the weather deteriorated as they approached Edgerton, Ohio, and he made the decision to return to Williams County Airport. He radioed the private pilot, who stated that he too would return. As he completed his turn, the friend stated that he saw an airplane go underneath his airplane. The friend radioed the private pilot concerned about his altitude, and thought the private pilot's response was, "I'm lost, or I lost it." The friend did not hear from the private pilot again.

A witness, who lived near the accident site and was outside at the time, stated that there were high winds and a heavy snow squall in the area when he observed the two aircraft coming from the east at 1825. He was surprised to see two airplanes so close together in that weather, so he decided to watched them. One airplane turned towards the southwest and the second airplane turned over his neighbor's house, continued the turn and was approximately 200 feet when it went into a steep angle. Shortly afterwards, he heard the crash. The witness stated that "the motor was on full power the whole time."

The airplane impacted a snow covered field on a southeasterly direction. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The engine and a wing had separated from the airframe, but were in close proximity to the rest of the wreckage. All of the wreckage came to rest within 50 feet of the initial impact point. Many small pieces of the airframe were scattered between the initial impact point and the main wreckage. The propeller was found separated from the engine with both blades twisted and bent aft.

A review of the Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the pilot was not instrument rated.

An autopsy was performed on November 13, 1996, by the Lucas County Coroner's Office, Toledo, Ohio.

A toxicology Report was completed on March 5, 1997, by the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.