Incident Overview
Prior to departing New Bern at 1837, the pilot called his office and stated that he had received a weather report for scattered thunderstorms along his route of flight. At 2020 and 2052, he contacted Atlanta Flight Watch for weather advisories. He was advised that the weather radar was out of service, but radar summary charts indicated he might encounter rain showers and thunderstorms in the area of Toccoa and Harris VOR.
Final Communication
At 2105, the pilot called Flight Watch again and reported encountering IFR conditions. Flight Watch replied that they did not have radar available and advised the pilot to contact Atlanta Center. The pilot did not acknowledge this instruction, and further attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
Accident Details
The aircraft crashed in a near-vertical attitude. At the time the pilot contacted Flight Watch, he was not provided pertinent information from the area forecast, which indicated clouds at 2,000-3,000 feet scattered variable broken, with a chance of ceilings and visibilities at or below 1,000 feet and 3 miles in thunderstorms with moderate rain showers.