One bit of information left out - was the pilot instrument-proficient?  If not, the aircraft couldn't fix what was wrong.  If so, it could have been an oft-repeated procedure of attempting to sneak up through the marine layer.  If that was the case, then what went wrong?  I heard once that fully 1/3 of all the IVPT's have crashed.  Can that be?

Gary 

 

This is the December LIVPT fatal in San Diego.

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20121229X60421&key=1

IMC -- no flight plan...... Thoughts?

Jeff