What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Flew into cloud fog bank. Tried turn back. Lost it. Dove into trees. Trying to follow road VFR thru mountains. (-23) corrective action: none for pilot,privacy data omitted accident highlights: aircraft was purchased on November 13, 1997. Aircraft had annual inspection completed on November 13, 1997. Weather had deteriorated, pilot elected to make short flights to airports apparently within 50 mile range. Pilot took off from crossville, TN had to return because of sleet. Waited 2 hours for weather to break, took off again saw low clouds, turned, aircraft hit ground.
As the FAA filed it
FLEW INTO CLOUD FOG BANK. TRIED TURN BACK. LOST IT. DOVE INTO TREES. TRYING TO FOLLOW ROAD VFR THRU MOUNTAINS. (-23) CORRECTIVE ACTION: NONE FOR PILOT,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ACCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS: AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997. AIRCRAFT HAD ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997. WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED, PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE SHORT FLIGHTS TO AIRPORTS APPARENTLY WITHIN 50 MILE RANGE. PILOT TOOK OFF FROM CROSSVILLE, TN HAD TO RETURN BECAUSE OF SLEET. WAITED 2 HOURS FOR WEATHER TO BREAK, TOOK OFF AGAIN SAW LOW CLOUDS, TURNED, AIRCRAFT HIT GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.