Flight Planning
The non-instrument rated private pilot received an automated flight service station (AFSS) weather briefing for an intended visual flight rules (VFR) direct flight at 6,500 feet over mountainous terrain. The briefing included AIRMETs for IFR conditions, mountain obscuration, icing, and low en route cloud ceilings, as well as the advisory, "VFR flight not recommended." Despite this, the pilot amended his filed altitude to 4,500 feet. This altitude was higher than some forecasted cloud ceilings and lower than some terrain along the filed route. The pilot's filed alternate airport was also located in mountainous terrain.
Flight and Loss
After takeoff, the pilot did not activate the flight plan or establish radio contact with any air traffic control (ATC) facilities. ATC radar data showed a primary target, presumed to be the accident flight, first detected about 2 nautical miles south of the departure airport. The target continued generally direct toward the destination. Mode C data associated with the primary targets began about an hour later and continued for 26 minutes. Mode C data were lost when the target was about 15 nautical miles north of the Knoxville Class C airspace at an altitude of 4,600 feet. The airplane was missing for 6 years.
Discovery and Examination
The airplane was located by hunters in a heavily wooded mountainous area at an elevation of about 3,300 feet. The accident site was about 12.3 nautical miles north of the destination airport, and about 47.7 nautical miles south of the last Mode C return. Wreckage debris was scattered about 275 feet along an approximate 170-degree magnetic heading from a cluster of trees with uniformly broken tops. Broken tree evidence and impact evidence on the airframe were consistent with level, controlled flight into trees and terrain. Examination of the engine, airframe, and components revealed no evidence of pre-crash malfunction.