Accident Details
On an unspecified date, a light aircraft (registration N4716R) collided with wooded, rising terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,800 feet above mean sea level on the west slope of Hinch Mountain. A passenger who survived the crash later died due to burns. She stated that light conditions were dark and she could not see anything outside the aircraft before impact. She heard the pilot report on the radio that there was ice on the aircraft.
Pilot and Weather Information
The pilot had obtained five Flight Service Station (FSS) weather briefings prior to takeoff. A cold frontal system was on his proposed flight path. Numerous pilot reports indicated icing conditions in the St. Louis area and in Tennessee. Another pilot reported ice in the clouds near the crash site. The pilot of N4716R had told friends that he had much more flight experience than he actually had. He also told the FSS briefers that he was instrument rated.
Weather at Nearby Station
Approximately 11 miles away at Crossville, Tennessee, the weather observations at 1450 and 1526 Central Standard Time were, in part: 200 feet obscured, visibility 1/2 mile with fog, temperature 32 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 31 degrees Fahrenheit. The elevation at Crossville was 1,881 feet.
Investigation Findings
An investigation revealed evidence that the aircraft was in level, powered flight when it crashed.