Flight Details
The accident occurred on the final leg of a four-leg trip that the pilot began approximately 1120 that morning. At 2144, the pilot contacted air traffic control and requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following to the destination. At 2220, the flight began a slow descent toward the destination airport. Radar data indicated a steady descent and a straight-line course toward Graham. The final radar return occurred 37 minutes later at an altitude of 3,000 feet, about 8 miles southeast of Graham Municipal Airport. Radar coverage was not available below 3,000 feet. Two minutes after the final radar return, the pilot reported being two miles out and canceled VFR flight following. No further communications or distress calls were received from the airplane. The pilot did not request or receive updated weather from air traffic control during the flight.
Weather Conditions
Witnesses who lived near the accident site reported hearing an airplane flying low, observing dense fog, and hearing the sounds of an airplane crashing. The nearest weather reporting station indicated that near the time of the accident, the temperature-dew point spread was within 2 degrees, visibilities were reduced to between 3 and 4 miles in fog, and the ceiling was decreasing from 600 feet broken to 400 feet overcast. At the time of the accident, the pilot's duty day exceeded 12 hours.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the airframe revealed no preimpact anomalies. The landing gear was extended and the flaps were retracted. Examination of both engines revealed evidence of power at the time of impact.