First Departure and Return
The airplane initially departed under visual flight rules (VFR) at approximately 1000. About 15 minutes later, the pilot contacted the tower controller and reported that he was returning to the airport because he "could not maintain VFR." After landing, the pilot canceled his VFR flight plan by calling flight service and received an abbreviated weather briefing. He stated that he would attempt the same flight later in the day.
Second Departure and Events
At 1121, the airplane departed VFR again. Three minutes later, at 1124, the pilot contacted a center controller and requested VFR flight following. The controller suggested that the pilot land and file an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan.
Witness Accounts
Several witnesses in a mountainous area reported hearing an airplane fly overhead, followed by the sound of a crash. Some witnesses observed the airplane appear briefly out of the clouds, then re-enter the clouds seconds before impacting rising terrain. The witnesses also reported rain and dense fog at the time, with visibility estimates ranging from 50 to 150 feet.