What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On October 31, 2002, at 0950 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N15704, registered to dorsch aviation, LLC, and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees and terrain while maneuvering in laurel bloomery, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The flight originated from smith reynolds airport in winston salem, north carolina, at 0900. The pilot was practicing maneuvers in the local area. According to the pilot, the flight encountered clear ice at 6,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) and descended to 3,500 feet, in an attempt to get below the icing condition. However, the flight was still encountering clear ice and the pilot further descended in a valley to 2300 feet. When he attempted to climb out of the valley the airplane impacted into heavily wooded, mountainous terrain and caught fire. The pilot exited the airplane, and telephoned rescue personnel via his cell phone. The pilot was rescued at 1830. (-23) pilot encountered clear icing on the airframe. Attempted to fly underneath precip layer. Did not have enough lift to get over the Mountain.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON OCTOBER 31, 2002, AT 0950 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28R-200, N15704, REGISTERED TO DORSCH AVIATION, LLC, AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING IN LAUREL BLOOMERY, TENNESSEE. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST-CRASH FIRE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SMITH REYNOLDS AIRPORT IN WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, AT 0900. THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING MANEUVERS IN THE LOCAL AREA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED CLEAR ICE AT 6,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) AND DESCENDED TO 3,500 FEET, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET BELOW THE ICING CONDITION. HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT WAS STILL ENCOUNTERING CLEAR ICE AND THE PILOT FURTHER DESCENDED IN A VALLEY TO 2300 FEET. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OUT OF THE VALLEY THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED INTO HEAVILY WOODED, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE, AND TELEPHONED RESCUE PERSONNEL VIA HIS CELL PHONE. THE PILOT WAS RESCUED AT 1830. (-23) PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLEAR ICING ON THE AIRFRAME. ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDERNEATH PRECIP LAYER. DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH LIFT TO GET OVER THE MOUNTAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.