What happened
On December 1, 1989, the N2440P departed on a night cross-country flight but failed to reach its intended destination. During the flight, the pilot contacted a flight service station at 2312 to request weather forecasts for the route. At 2342, the pilot contacted the Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZMP), reporting that he was feeling "a little disoriented" and requested a heading toward Sault Ste Marie (ANJ), Michigan, along with a transponder code.
Although two transponder codes were assigned to the aircraft, air traffic controllers were unable to establish radar contact. The final communication from the pilot occurred at 2345, noting that transmissions were "pretty weak." A witness reported seeing an aircraft flying at tree-top level during a period of heavy snow in the area.
The wreckage was not located until October 12, 2002, when it was found by hunters. The aircraft had impacted trees and terrain within a heavily wooded swamp.
The investigation
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the airplane descended through trees for approximately 150 feet on a northeasterly heading before coming to rest in a nearly inverted position. Investigators established continuity of the flight controls. The engine had separated from the airframe at the engine mounts and was found buried in the swamp, with only about 1.5 inches of one propeller blade visible. Due to the location, there were no immediate plans for wreckage removal.