What happened
During a period of significant weather degradation, a twin engine airplane was traveling at an altitude of approximately 5,900 feet. The area was experiencing heavy rain, fog, and a low cloud ceiling, which reduced visibility to zero. While navigating through these marginal conditions, the aircraft collided with a mountain slope in the vicinity of Linville.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. The pilot, who was the only person on board at the time of the accident, sustained fatal injuries during the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary cause was controlled flight into terrain while the aircraft was in a normal cruise phase. This occurred because the pilot proceeded with visual flight rules (VFR) operations despite the presence of adverse weather.
Several contributing factors were identified during the inquiry:
- The pilot was suffering from physical impairment
- Alcoholic impairment affecting both judgment and operational efficiency
- A recorded blood ethanol level of 90 mg %
- Reduced visibility caused by fog and rain
- Low cloud ceilings obscuring the terrain