What happened
Following its departure at 14:17 CST, the aircraft climbed and maintained an altitude of approximately 7,600 feet. Radar tracking indicated that the plane remained at this level until roughly 17:33 EST, positioned about 28 to 30 miles north of the Knoxville VOR. As the flight progressed, the aircraft descended to pass the Snowbird VOR at an altitude of approximately 6,700 feet. During this period, the radar data recorded multiple fluctuations in altitude.
After passing the Snowbird VOR, the aircraft executed a turn toward the south, during which further altitude excursions were observed. The final radar contact occurred at 6,100 feet, positioned roughly one mile from the site of the accident. The aircraft ultimately struck mountainous terrain at an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet MSL, located about 11 miles from its intended destination. At the time of the impact, meteorological conditions at the crash site were characterized by precipitation and low cloud cover.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that both occupants were killed in the crash. The findings identified several contributing factors, including the aircraft's encounter with adverse weather conditions such as rain and clouds. Additionally, the investigation noted that the flight occurred during dark night conditions and involved high, mountainous terrain. Crucially, the pilot was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.4‰, and the crash was attributed to the pilot flying into known adverse weather while also maintaining inadequate altitude.