Accident Sequence
The aircraft was operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMR) when it sustained a total electrical failure. The pilot continued navigation using dead reckoning. Unable to find a break in the cloud layer, the pilot decided to descend through the clouds. During the descent, the aircraft struck the tops of trees on a ridge at an elevation of 1,850 feet.
Weather Conditions
Broken to overcast conditions were present at both Chattanooga and Knoxville, with cloud bases between 1,200 and 2,200 feet above mean sea level. The owner of the property where the aircraft crashed reported that he heard the impact but could not see the aircraft because fog covered the ridge.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that a field wire had pulled out of the alternator, which led to the total electrical failure. No other causal factors were identified in the source material.