Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane was destroyed when it struck the slope of a mountain near Linville during cruise flight. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed. The accident occurred while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 5,900 feet in conditions of limited visibility attributed to marginal weather.
Circumstances
At the time of the accident, visibility was reported as zero due to a low ceiling, rain, and fog. The aircraft impacted the mountain at an elevation of 5,909 feet. The mountain was obscured by weather at the time of the impact.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official probable cause of the accident is controlled flight into terrain during normal cruise after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors reported by investigators include physical impairment of the pilot, alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment, low ceiling, rain, fog, a blood ethanol level of 90 mg%, impact with the mountain at 5,909 feet, and the mountain being obscured.