What happened
On a Sunday morning, a Cessna (registration N8263P) departed Gainesville Regional Airport at approximately 0035. Prior to departure, the aircraft had been refueled with an additional 30 gallons of fuel at the request of the pilot as a safety precaution. At the time of refueling, weather conditions included low clouds and light rain.
The crew, consisting of 2 occupants, had recently arrived from Pennsylvania and expressed a desire to continue toward their final destination in Williston, Florida, rather than staying in Gainesville. Upon departure, the pilot notified the Gainesville Flight Service Station that the aircraft was departing under visual flight rules (VFR) to the south.
Radar data from the Cross City ARSR-4 facility tracked the aircraft's path, which included numerous course changes and altitude variations between 1900 feet and 800 feet. The groundspeed fluctuated between approximately 150 knots and 91 knots over a 13-minute period. In the final 36 seconds of radar contact, the aircraft was observed in a right-hand descending turn. During the last 12 seconds, the aircraft descended at an average rate of 2500 feet per minute with a groundspeed of 150 knots. The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 800 feet when radar contact was lost.
The aircraft struck a tree at a height of approximately 50 feet and impacted the ground at about a 20-degree angle, roughly 150 feet from the tree. The resulting debris field was approximately 300 feet long and oriented on a heading of 312 degrees.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft's engine, flight controls, and airframe revealed no evidence of anomalies prior to the accident.