Background
During two weather briefings, the pilot was advised that enroute weather would be marginal visual meteorological conditions (VMC) to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The briefings included a convective SIGMET covering Tennessee and North Carolina, with a possibility of thunderstorm activity, low ceiling and visibility, high surface winds, turbulence, icing, and obscured mountains. Numerous pilots had canceled flights due to the severity of the weather.
Departure
At 1251, the pilot departed Chattanooga. At that time, he was advised of a thunderstorm cell between his position and Dalton, Georgia, moving north-northeast, which could possibly be along his intended route of flight.
Accident
About five minutes after departure, the aircraft impacted a ridge.