Departure and Preparation
The aircraft departed from Manassas without the pilot having obtained a current weather briefing or filed a flight plan. The pilot also left navigational aids, including maps and a checkpoint list, at home.
Weather Conditions
The route of flight took the aircraft into an area with low cloud ceilings and reduced visibility. Witnesses in the area reported that mountain tops were obscured and visibility was poor due to fog and drizzle. The fog and drizzle were significant enough to obscure mountain tops, as confirmed by multiple witnesses.
Accident Details
The aircraft crashed into a mountain at an elevation of 3,850 feet. Because no flight plan was filed, the intended route and destination are not known from official records.
Pilot Background
The pilot was reportedly under mental stress due to recent personal events.