What happened
The aircraft, N6571R, was operating a flight from Bluford, Ohio, to Florida. The pilot had previously refueled at Livingston, Tennessee, while en route. During the flight, the weather conditions deteriorated into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), characterized by rain, fog, and low ceilings that were lower than the mountain top elevation.
The pilot reported that the weather was becoming unfavorable and initiated a 180-degree turn. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed into trees near the VOR on top of Hinch Mountain at approximately 3,000 feet MSL. The wreckage distribution indicated the wings were level with a descent angle of about 10 degrees at impact. A tree limb found at the site bore two propeller slashes, indicating substantial engine RPM at the time of contact.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate but was not instrument rated. He had not filed a flight plan, and there were no records of radio contacts during the flight. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed that the pilot had purchased the airplane four months before the accident. In November 1987, he replaced the engine with a remanufactured unit. His family stated he had flown the aircraft approximately seven hours after the engine replacement prior to this flight.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to continue flying into IMC without instrument rating and the subsequent loss of power. The cause of the power loss was not definitively determined, though the recent engine replacement was noted.