What happened
The aircraft was conducting an air taxi operation to transport two prisoners under visual flight rules. Prior to departure, the pilot obtained multiple weather briefings, two of which explicitly advised against VFR flight due to deteriorating conditions. Despite these warnings, the pilot departed Winston-Salem around 1338 for a flight to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Witnesses located south of the crash site reported observing the aircraft flying north near Interstate Highway I-77 at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level. They noted the engine sounded steady and loud. The area was reportedly covered in fog, with higher elevations completely obscured. One or two minutes after sighting the aircraft, witnesses heard a crash.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain while maintaining level flight before bursting into flames. Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction, failure, or foul play. It was noted that the pilot had recently been hired and this was only his second flight as pilot-in-command with the company.
Findings
The primary contributing factor appears to be controlled flight into terrain due to poor visibility in mountainous terrain. The pilot proceeded with a VFR flight despite weather briefings that discouraged such operations. The low altitude flown by the aircraft in an area with obscured higher elevations suggests a loss of spatial awareness or failure to maintain visual reference.
Safety message
Pilots must strictly adhere to weather advisories and avoid flying into mountainous terrain when visibility is compromised, especially during air taxi operations involving passengers.