The crash, on June 4 last year, involved a Cessna 182Q aircraft on a trip from Walgett to Mudgee.

The pilot took off from Walgett in “good weather conditions”, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report said, and climbed to 5,500ft and during the flight.

Investgations revealed the cloud base lowered and the aircraft descended until it was flying about 1,000ft above flat terrain, either close to or in the cloud.

The aircraft crashed into a rock face in mountainous terrain, 15km north of Tooraweenah.

The pilot died at the scene and the aircraft was completely destroyed.

“There was no indication that a loss of control, mechanical defect or loss of engine power existed at the time of the collision,” the report said.

Bureau investigations found the pilot did not select a flight track to avoid the rising terrain or divert to a suitable aerodrome in what were deteriorating conditions.

“This accident provides a reminder to pilots of the insidious risks associated with reduced forward visibility when flying in or near the cloud base,” the report said.

“The benefits of leaving a Flight Note with a suitable person in terms of ensuring the early commencement of a search for an overdue aircraft are also evident.

“Pilots conducting VFR (visual flight rules) flights should remain aware that once they fly into weather conditions with reducing forward visibility, their ability to manoeuvre around approaching obstacles could be severely limited because obstacles may not be seen until they are too close to avoid. Such collisions are not often survivable.”