General Aviation Aircraft Collides with Mountainous Terrain North of Knoxville (N30470)

Departure and Weather Conditions A pilot departed Knoxville in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. At the time of departure, an area of instrument flight rules (IFR) weather was located to the north and northwest of Knoxville, and weather along the planned route of flight was forecast to be marginal. The pilot reported an intention to depart on a heading of 360 degrees and to be at 2,500 feet. The maximum elevation for the sector just north of Knoxville was 3,900 feet. The 1349 EDT weather report at the departure airport, McGhee Tyson (elevation 981 feet), indicated an overcast ceiling of 1,900 feet, visibility of 10 miles, and rain and fog. ## Collision with Terrain The aircraft subsequently collided with mountainous terrain at an elevation of 2,350 feet, approximately 27 miles north of McGhee Tyson. Witnesses near the crash site indicated that the mountains were obscured by clouds, fog, and rain.