Departure and Clearance
After takeoff from runway 11, the pilot was conducting an instrument flight rules initial climb in fog, aiming to reach visual conditions on top. Prior to departure, the pilot contacted the control tower to request the instrument departure to on-top and was instructed to standby. During subsequent communications, the pilot was advised that the "tops" were at 300 feet above ground level and was issued a clearance to taxi to the runway. The tower then informed the pilot that they were closing and directed the pilot to contact Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) for release.
The pilot obtained an IFR clearance and was released to on-top. As part of the release, the pilot was assigned a standard instrument departure that required a right turn to 130 degrees after departure. No further communication was received from the pilot, and radar contact was never established.
Collision and Investigation
The airplane subsequently collided with the ground south of the runway. The wreckage came to rest in a steep right-wing-down attitude on a magnetic heading of 180 degrees. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed no system anomalies. The vacuum pump drive shear-shaft was found intact, and there was rotational scoring on the attitude indicator gyroscope rotor.