Flight Service Briefings
According to an Automated Flight Service Station, the pilot of N6522M first called at 0748 EST to request weather for a planned VFR flight from Hilton Head, South Carolina, to Charleston, West Virginia. The briefer provided a standard weather briefing and advised that VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot indicated he would call back later.
At 1017 EST, the pilot called again to check weather conditions. He received another standard briefing and was again told VFR was not recommended. The weather had not improved by 1134 EST, when the pilot called for an update on conditions at both Hilton Head and Charleston, West Virginia. The briefer advised that conditions remained below VFR minimums and that he would probably not be able to make the flight in any direction.
Departure and Witness Accounts
The pilot of N6522M departed Hilton Head, South Carolina, at about 1150 EST. At 1210 EST, he was handed off from Beaufort Approach Control to Charleston Approach Control. Ground witnesses reported that it was foggy; they could hear an airplane but could not see it. They believed the airplane was circling around a lake at a very low altitude. Shortly afterward, a witness who was moving his boat to a different fishing spot encountered debris floating in the lake.
No further details were provided in the source regarding the aircraft type, engine count, date, occupants, injuries, or damage items. The weather conditions were described by the witnesses as foggy. The source does not state any official findings or probable cause.