Incident Overview
During the initial climb after takeoff, smoke was observed in the cockpit. As the smoke became heavy, the pilot decided to land. He attempted a forced landing on rising terrain in foggy conditions. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed into the side of a hill and began burning.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, arcing-type burns were found around the bolt and nut at the T1 terminal. Additionally, the eyelet fittings on the ends of two wires that attached at that location were badly burned. The specific reason for the arcing was not determined.
Pilot Information
The pilot did not have a current biennial flight review or an air taxi/operating certificate.