What happened
While approaching the destination airport, the pilot established contact with Approach Control, reporting a cruise altitude of 7,500 feet on a 138-degree heading. After receiving the current altimeter setting, the pilot requested weather information for Perry, Georgia. The nearest reporting facility indicated a 600-foot ceiling and 7 miles of visibility.
During subsequent radio communications, the pilot confirmed he was instrument qualified. When asked about current flight conditions, the pilot reported being at 1,300 feet and requested a direct heading to Perry. The controller informed the pilot that the airport was located 10 miles off his two o'clock position. At 22:26:04, radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost. Witnesses near the site observed a fireball followed by the sound of a crash. The wreckage was located within minutes, and the one passenger on board was rescued.
The investigation
The examination of the accident site showed debris scattered over an area 850 feet long and 75 feet wide. The wreckage path contained fresh gouges in the dirt, along with paint chips and airframe debris embedded in the ground. Several fire-damaged pieces of airframe material were found throughout the path, including a fire-damaged rudder assembly lodged in a tree approximately 400 feet south of the main wreckage. The main wreckage, comprising the cockpit, empennage, and airframe center section, was wrapped around the base of a pecan tree located 725 feet north of the first damaged tree along the path. The left engine assembly was found 75 feet northwest of the main airframe. The examination of the debris failed to disclose any mechanical malfunction or component failure.