What happened
On the day of the accident, a well-publicized weather system was affecting the conditions along the pilot's route. Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico was moving northward toward a cold front that extended from Mexico to Canada. Residents in the area reported low ceilings, low visibility, and thunderstorms. There is no evidence that the pilot contacted any government agency for preflight weather information. The airplane flew almost straight and level into trees and terrain at the 2600-foot level on Fourch Mountain, north of Mena, Arkansas.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the weather conditions and the flight path. The region had low ceilings, low visibility, and thunderstorms. There is no evidence that the pilot contacted any government agency for preflight weather information.