Flight and Weather Conditions
According to reports, the ceiling was 500 feet with visibility of 2 miles at the time of the flight. The pilot requested and received a Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) clearance to depart Bellingham Airport. After takeoff, the pilot reported being clear of the airport's Class D airspace.
Witness Observations
A witness reported seeing the aircraft flying very low over water near the accident site. The witness described the aircraft as appearing to go in and out of clouds. Subsequently, the witness observed the aircraft turn toward rising wooded terrain and disappear into the clouds. The aircraft crashed shortly afterward. Other witnesses reported very low ceilings and fog in the accident area at that time.
Wreckage and Damage
Investigators found pieces of the aircraft's left wing and left horizontal stabilizer, along with a felled treetop, between the location of the witness's sighting and the main crash site. These items were located on or near the crest of a hill approximately one-quarter mile from the main crash site. The pieces exhibited leading-edge and primary structure damage, as well as leading-edge-embedded plant material. This damage was consistent with the pieces separating from the aircraft upon contact with trees.
The main crash site showed wreckage and impact signatures indicative of an uncontrolled impact with the ground. Investigators found no evidence of any aircraft malfunctions or cargo anomalies occurring prior to the apparent tree strikes.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be the pilot's attempted flight into known adverse weather conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain altitude above, or clearance with, trees. Factors contributing to the accident included low ceilings, fog, the pilot's low-altitude flight, rising terrain, and trees.