Pilot 'mistakenly flew into weather' before deadly crash, NTSB says

Weather conditions changed while a pilot was flying his Piper Cherokee, resulting in him flying erratically through the clouds, calling Mayday and reporting issues with his instruments. With only 66 hours of total flight time and no instrument rating, the pilot mistakenly flew into IFR conditions and crashed, killing him and destroying his plane. The pilot took off from the Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) on Nov. 14 with the controller reporting that weather conditions were IFR, indicating the ceiling was broken clouds at 800 feet above ground level. One minute later, telling the pilot there were updated weather conditions with few clouds at 800ft agl, subsequently issuing a taxi clearance for the plane. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data indicates that after the plane departed, it flew on a northerly track, then made a brief turn towards the east. This was followed by a left turn back to the northerly heading. "It looks like it's updating now to be not IFR, showing a few (clouds) at 800 (feet)," the controller told the pilot, according to WUFT News. "So, if you stand by a minute or two we'll be VFR." The plane performed several erratic 360-degree turns and numerous climbs and descents to a maximum altitude of 6,900 ft mean sea level and a minimum altitude of 500 ft msl before losing radar contact. The NTSB said the rate of descent was as high as 5,000 ft per minute to the final data point. The preliminary review of air traffic control communications revealed the pilot calling Mayday and claiming he was "lost in weather." During this time the pilot gave multiple reports that he was having issues with his instruments, that he "mistakenly flew into weather," "it's completely white," and that he could not see anything outside. The wreckage was found about 650 northeast of the final ADS-B data point. The plane came to rest in the woods at an elevation of 100 ft msl. The aircraft hit numerous trees before it impacted sandy terrain and came to rest in a four-foot-deep crater. All of the major components of the plane were found around the main wreckage. The fuselage was fragmented and the cabin was crushed forward. The right wing separated from the fuselage and its forward section was impact-crushed aft. The left wing was fragmented and its inboard section was impact-crushed aft. The empennage was impact separated from the fuselage and the stabilator remained attached. The attitude indicator was taken off the instrument panel and disassembled with rotational scoring noted on the gyroscope and the gyroscope housing. The electric turn and bank indicator were also removed and disassembled with vertical scoring noted on the gyroscope. Other aircraft and engine components were disassembled and analyzed and no anomalies were found.RELATED STORIES:Am I Still VFR? The difference between VFR/IFR and the options in betweenInstrument checks— what you need to look for from VFR to IFR According to the preliminary weather radar information, the flight track entered an area of very light intensity precipitation at around 1,100 feet and continued on a westerly heading while remaining in light intensity echoes for the rest of the flight. The NTSB preliminary report states that the pilot had about 66 hours of total flight time with a private pilot certificate, only one hour of instrument flight time and 2.2 hours of simulated instrument flight time. According to People, the 21-year-old pilot obtained his license in May 2021 and bought the Piper on Oct. 31, 2023. WCJB reports that the pilot was Adrien James Valentine of Melrose, Florida. He leaves behind his parents, sister, other family and friends. A GoFundMe was set up for funeral costs and to establish a memorial fund in his honor to allow others to explore a shared love of the sky with pilot training.Check out aviation weather maps before your next flightWeather is uncontrollable and can often completely change the course of a flight. As a new pilot or student pilot, learning the differences and limitations of VFR and IFR flying is crucial. Weather conditions can change in an instant and are often hard to adapt to, but knowing your skill level and limitations is important to prevent deadly consequences.The NTSB has released its preliminary report on this deadly crash and will release a final in at least one year, with a probable cause if one can be determined.