The pilot obtained a weather forecast and submitted a flight
plan which indicated his intention to conduct the flight under
visual flight rules. The forecast details were indicative of visual
meteorological conditions existing In the initial stages of the
flight and also in the area in which the accident occurred. After
passing West Wyalong, the weather deteriorated, and the pilot
descended to about 500 feet above ground level to remain beneath
the lowering overcast cloud base. The Weddin Mountain Range which
lay across the aircraft's track and which rises some 1200 feet
above the surrounding flat terrain was obscured by fog and low
cloud and, as the pilot approached the range from the west, he was
confronted by an area of fog which extended from the cloud base to
the ground. Maintaining about 500 feet clearance from the ground,
the aircraft penetrated the fog area and soon afterwards the pilot
commenced a turn to the left with the intention of regaining visual
meteorological conditions. Almost immediately, through a break in
the fog, the pilot observed trees on steeply rising ground ahead.
He applied power and pulled up sharply, but the aircraft struck
trees near the top of the ridge and crashed to the ground.
