What happened
A flight involving the pilot, his wife, and five children was returning to Keene, New and Hampshire (EEN) after traveling from Florida. During a stop in North Carolina, the crew initially considered diverting to Utica or Hamilton, New York, due to uncertainty regarding weather conditions at their destination. However, later in the flight, the pilot decided to proceed toward Keene to ensure the children arrived in time for school.
Approximately one hour later, the pilot notified air traffic control that he was dissatisfied with the weather at the intended destination. He canceled his IFR clearance and requested VFR advisories for an airport in Westfield, Massachusetts. The Cessna (type not specified in source) landed at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, at approximately 1900.
The aircraft departed from runway 29 at about 2003. After takeoff, the airplane performed a climbing right turn onto a northeast heading and continued on an east-northeast heading. Approximately five minutes after departure, the aircraft impacted terrain. The wreckage was located at an elevation of approximately 1,920 feet MSL, roughly 7.5 miles east of the departure airport. There were 6 fatalities involved in the accident.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunctions. At the time of the accident, an AIRMET for IFR conditions was valid for the accident site. Weather reports from a nearby airport 15 miles north indicated visibility of 8 miles with a broken ceiling at 1,300 feet and overcast at 1,800 feet. Conversely, weather reported at EEN showed much lower visibility of 1/2 to 3/4 statute miles with a 100-foot overcast ceiling. Astronomical data indicated that sunset had occurred at 1744 and civil twilight had ended at 1812, meaning the accident occurred in darkness.