Incident Overview
A pilot departed on a scenic flight for leaf watching. After the departure, no one saw the airplane or communicated with the pilot. The wreckage was later located approximately 800 feet below the top of a 3,800-foot mountain.
Pilot Background
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate but did not possess an instrument rating. In the 18 months preceding the accident, the pilot had accumulated 36.3 hours of flight time. Prior to that period, the pilot had not flown for 35 years. A flight instructor who was familiar with the pilot described the pilot's abilities as marginal.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included an overcast ceiling at about 1,200 feet and visibility of approximately 2 miles. A witness reported that the accident site was obscured by clouds.
Accident Details
The airplane entered the trees in a wings-level attitude, creating a descent path of approximately 3 degrees.