Accident Overview
The accident involved a private pilot with an instrument rating who was on a cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The flight ended when the airplane impacted terrain about 6 miles southeast of the departure airport, at an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet. The crash site was located in a forest with large trees. Evidence indicated a vertical, or near vertical, impact with trees and terrain, as there was no horizontal crash path through the trees and the airplane sustained impact damage consistent with such a descent.
Flight History
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he was at his assigned altitude of 3,000 feet. This was the last known communication from the pilot. Radar data showed the airplane flying in a southeasterly direction after takeoff and climbing to about 3,000 feet. Over a span of about 3 minutes, the airplane made turns that were not directed by air traffic control: first from the southeast to the south, then to the northeast, before disappearing from radar.
Weather
A weather observation taken at the departure airport around the time of the accident included an overcast ceiling at 1,600 feet and identical temperature and dew point of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wreckage and Examination
The wreckage was located in a forest with large trees, at an elevation about 1,300 feet. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly.