Accident Sequence
An instrument-rated pilot received a weather brief indicating instrument meteorological conditions with cloud bases near 600 feet and tops above 10,000 feet. Flight visibility was reported as 0 miles in the clouds and near 4 miles in mist below the lowest cloud base. An AIRMET for IFR conditions was in effect for the accident site area.
The pilot departed Savannah, Georgia during daylight hours. Approximately 8 minutes into the flight, after acknowledging an Air Traffic Controller's instruction to fly a heading of 080 degrees and maintain an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane was observed to turn left, followed by a descending turn to the right. The airplane was last observed at 1318:38 at an altitude of 1,700 feet.
The airplane then collided with high voltage utility wires and impacted the ground, spreading burning debris over a large area.
Witness Observation
A witness who was outside her house on her porch reported seeing the accident airplane in a descent with one wing low, as if in a turn, and it disappeared behind trees, exploding on impact. She stated that the engine sounded as if it was operating normally prior to the impact.
Postcrash Examination
Postcrash examination of the aircraft did not reveal any evidence of any preaccident failure or malfunction to the airframe, the flight controls, or the engine.