What happened
On an unspecified date, a single engine airplane was operating at a low altitude when it encountered several patches of fog. During the flight, the aircraft descended into the treetops and crashed within a wooded region located in Lewis, NY. The wreckage of the plane remained undiscovered for two days following the accident.
At the time of the impact, the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft. Following the discovery of the site, it was confirmed that the pilot had sustained fatal injuries during the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the crash. The aircraft was observed at treetop level shortly before it struck a mountain upslope. Key factors included:
- Presence of fog patches during the flight
- The aircraft flying at an inappropriately low altitude
- Improper IFR operation and poor decision-making by the pilot