What happened
On the morning of April 10, 2003, a flight intended for repositioning departed from Rome, Georgia, with a destination of Canton, Georgia. The flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). After the pilot failed to arrive at his residence or establish contact, local authorities were notified by the pilot's spouse late that evening. It was reported that the pilot had previously flown to Augusta, Georgia, to collect passengers for a return trip to Rome, and while those passengers had reached their destination, the pilot's aircraft remained missing.
Following the report, the Civil Air Patrol initiated a search operation. On April 11, 2003, the wreckage was discovered on the western slope of Bear Mountain, located near Waleska, Georgia. The crash site was situated approximately 11.3 nautical miles west of Cherokee County Airport and 26 nautical miles east of Rome. The terrain at the impact point featured an upslope of roughly 30 to 40 degrees, with a field elevation of 1,750 feet MSL, significantly lower than the 2,268-foot peak of the mountain.
Findings
An inspection of the aircraft's engine, flight controls, airframe, and various accessories showed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions. No information regarding the number of fatalities or injuries was provided in the source material.