What happened
While operating under instrument flight rules, the pilot and one passenger were traveling toward an uncontrolled airport to collect a patient for transport to a VA hospital. Before reaching the destination, the pilot contacted air traffic control to cancel the IFR flight plan, stating that the airfield was in sight. Although the destination airport was reporting visual flight rules conditions, the surrounding area featured rising mountains to the northeast, with reports indicating that the upper portions of the terrain were obscured by clouds.
Following the cancellation of the flight plan, the aircraft failed to arrive at the intended airport and ceased all radio communications. Search efforts located the wreckage several hours later near the crest of Holston Mountain, situated approximately half a mile east of the Holston mountain VOR. The investigation determined that the aircraft type impacted wooded, upsloping terrain while maintaining an 8° climb angle. The wreckage showed signs of a high-speed impact, and both occupants were killed.
Findings
An inspection of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction prior to the crash. The investigation noted that the impact with rising terrain occurred during the flight phase.