What happened
On January 15, 1993, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from Flight Service Station personnel for a planned flight from Smoketown, PA, to Latrobe, PA. During this briefing, the pilot was advised of forecasts for IFR conditions and issued flight precautions; VFR flight was not recommended.
At 0727 EST, radar observed an aircraft departing Smoketown and tracking toward Latrobe. The aircraft was reported missing later that same morning, prompting the initiation of a search operation. On March 18, 1993, the wreckage of the airplane and its occupants were located.
The investigation
An examination of the accident site and the aircraft revealed that the plane struck trees at the top of a mountain before impacting the terrain at an altitude of approximately 2,800 feet MSL. Investigators found no anomalies regarding the engine or the airframe. At the time of the accident, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not instrument rated and had not filed a flight plan for the flight.