What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The pilot reported that while en route during the VFR flight, he got off course and encountered rising terrain that was covered by clouds. The pilot attempted a course reversal, however, about half-way through the turn the aircraft collided with several trees on up-sloping terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. (-23) aircraft was enroute from the renton airport to the portland area on a VFR flight when the pilot "got off course", and ended up further east than the planned route of flight. With weather conditions deteriorating, the PIC attempted a course correction, and in the process, the aircraft struck the trees. The pilot stated that he was in VMC conditions at the time the aircraft contacted the trees.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE DURING THE VFR FLIGHT, HE GOT OFF COURSE AND ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN THAT WAS COVERED BY CLOUDS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A COURSE REVERSAL, HOWEVER, ABOUT HALF-WAY THROUGH THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES ON UP-SLOPING TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM THE RENTON AIRPORT TO THE PORTLAND AREA ON A VFR FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT "GOT OFF COURSE", AND ENDED UP FURTHER EAST THAN THE PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS DETERIORATING, THE PIC ATTEMPTED A COURSE CORRECTION, AND IN THE PROCESS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN VMC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.