What happened
On March 2, 2012, a Cessna 350 (registration N167ZP) crashed into High Rock Lake near Salisbury, North Carolina. The flight originated from Davison County Airport (EXX) at approximately 1310 EST. Prior to departure, the pilot informed a local lineman that the intended destination was Florida and stated that the flight would remain below 1,900 feet to avoid weather concerns.
At the time of takeoff, local weather was reported as visual flight rules (VFR) with light rain and an 1,800-foot ceiling. However, the pilot did not file a flight plan and was not in radio contact with air traffic control. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, witnesses near the accident site heard the aircraft flying overhead but could not see it due to heavy fog. Shortly after, witnesses observed a large splash and a spray of water in the lake, followed by the appearance of aircraft debris.
The accident resulted in 2 fatal injuries.
The investigation
The aircraft was recovered from the lake at a depth of approximately 27 feet. The wreckage exhibited severe fragmentation, which investigators noted was consistent with a steep, high-speed descent and impact.
An examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. While the cockpit and instrument panel were crushed, the aircraft was equipped with a Garmin G1000 integrated flight instrument system; however, data retrieved from the system's data cards yielded no pertinent information regarding the accident.
Findings
Investigators determined that the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) during the flight. The wreckage pattern was consistent with an uncontrolled descent caused by spatial disorientation.