Background
Before departure, the pilot telephoned his brother in North Carolina to ask about the weather. The brother reported an overcast. The pilot responded that he would "come on and skirt the mountains." No flight plan was filed, and there is no record of an FAA weather briefing. The aircraft crashed approximately 130 miles west of the straight-line path between the departure point and the intended destination.
Witness Accounts
Two known witnesses heard the aircraft before impact. One described the engine sound as increasing in pitch and then dying, comparing it to a model aircraft flying in a circle. The other witness reported that the engine stopped and started three times. This witness also estimated the ceiling as very low and the visibility as very poor.
Crash Site Examination
Examination of the crash site revealed that the right wing tip had separated and come to rest at some distance from the main wreckage. The lower wing skin failed in tension, while the top skin was torn and deformed upward. The propeller had separated and was curled and bent.
No other details about the aircraft, occupants, or causal factors are available from the source.