The conditions in route changed.
Please keep in mind... I am NOT professing to know all the facts, only what has been said so far and that's 'iffy' because the media is so anxious to get 'something' out there.
The area where the LAPD and Sheriff's made the call to ground aircraft was near the actual crash location... and the conditions there were apparently 'legal' when they departed from John Wayne. Conditions deteriorated quickly as they were 'in route'. When they arrived near the crash location they were under "Special VFR" which is given to fly in less than minimum conditions required for VFR.
It has all the appearance of the flight being 'legal' and the accident the result of Pilot error.... and I want to be clear... that's just MY OPINION based on what I know... or rather, what has been reported.
I could go into more detail... sstrams and I have been looking into it somewhat closely... sstrams is quite good at NTSB accident reports, (Nations Transportation Safety Board). BUT....
Not the time... all I'm doing is conjecture at this point... based on some solid evidence but still conjecture. - JamesJM