Weather Briefing
At 1010, the pilot received a weather briefing for the proposed route. The briefer advised that showers were expected in West Virginia and that it might not be possible to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) below clouds along the mountainous route. An alternate route further east was suggested. However, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan via the originally proposed western route.
Witness Observations
Witnesses heard engine sounds as the aircraft apparently approached a black cloud. The aircraft was not seen again until it spiraled out of the bottom of the black cloud with one wing missing.
Meteorological Conditions
A few minutes after the accident, rain began falling and lightning was observed in the clouds. The 1305 radar photograph from Tri-City, Tennessee showed thunderstorm activity near the accident site and a large area of thunderstorm activity west of the Elkin area.