What happened
A private pilot was operating a flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Louisville, Kentucky, with a refueling stop in Knoxville, Tennessee. After departing Knoxville at 22:49 EDT, the pilot requested visual flight rules (VFR) vectors toward a heading of 330°. While under radar service, the controller terminated contact approximately 23 miles northwest of the Knoxville area.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft struck trees while flying over rising terrain near a ridge crest. The impact took place at an altitude of roughly 3,000 feet MSL while the plane was traveling on a heading of 290°. At the time of the accident, weather conditions in Knoxville included rain, fog, and an overcast ceiling of 3,700 feet. There were no signs of mechanical failure or malfunction prior to the collision. The pilot was the only person on board and was killed in the crash.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's preparation and the environmental conditions. Key findings included:
- Inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot in command.
- The flight occurred during dark night conditions.
- Presence of adverse weather, specifically clouds, fog, and rain.
- The pilot continued flight into known adverse weather conditions.
- Failure to maintain proper altitude relative to the terrain.
- Impact with high, rising terrain and trees.