Flight Preparation and Preflight Weather Briefing
The pilot, who held an instrument rating and commercial certificate, obtained a preflight weather briefing prior to the flight. The flight was operated under CFR Part 91 as a night cross-country trip in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot filed an IFR flight plan and received ATIS information November before takeoff. The ATIS reported wind from 140 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, ceiling 500 feet broken, temperature 16 degrees C, dew point 15 degrees C, and altimeter 30.02 inches of Hg.
Meteorological Conditions at Accident Time
The meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were reported as probably including surface winds from the southeast at 16 knots, cloud bases near 1,800 feet with multiple cloud layers above, light to moderate turbulence above 2,000 feet, and light rain.
Departure and Initial Climb
The high-intensity runway lights (HIRL) were set to intensity level 3. The single-engine airplane was cleared for takeoff following the departure of an airline jet. Radar track data indicated that the jet was at an altitude of 2,000 feet msl when the airplane was cleared for takeoff. The airplane became airborne at least halfway down the runway, and radar data showed a climb profile that passed above the jet.
Loss of Contact
The pilot was cleared to contact departure control and acknowledged the clearance. No further communication was received from the aircraft.
Impact and Post-Accident Examination
During impact with terrain and the subsequent post-accident fire, the airplane was destroyed. No complete system was found intact. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any discrepancies that would have precluded operation of the aircraft prior to the impact.
Pilot Experience and Recent Flight Time
The pilot had satisfactorily completed a VFR-only competency/proficiency check and had flown 27.5 hours of CFR Part 135 flights in the accident aircraft. The accumulated PIC flight time in the make and model of the accident aircraft was 56.8 hours, including 22.3 hours at night. The accumulated flight time during the day in actual IMC was 33.8 hours in the previous 5 years, of which 3.3 hours (2.4 hours in the accident airplane) were in the last 90 days. The most recent logged flight time at night in actual IMC prior to the accident flight was 0.3 hour on July 2, 1993, and 2.3 hours on September 24, 1993.