20180328010289A

Aircraft took off from (gad) on a part 91 flight to (msy) around 1215 CST. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed . A VFR flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot contacted birmingham approach shortly after departure and reported he was "7 miles south of the airport and climbing through 700 for 2,500," and requesting flight following. The appraoch controller gave the pilot a transponder code and the pilot advised the code was "in the box." There were no further communications with the pilot.

The pilot was reported missing by family members when he did not arrive at msy. On March 30, about 1815 CDT, a civil air patrol (cap) airplane spotted the wreckage and guided ground crews to the location about 7 miles south of (gad). The private pilot was fatally injured . The initial tree impact occurred on flat heavily wooded terrain. The trees that were impacted were approximately 50 ft tall. The wreckage path was about 200 ft long, the main wreckage came to rest on a heading of 210°. Approximately 15 ft beyond the initial tree impact was an additional tree strike, with a portion of a wing strut in the top branches. A portion of the right elevator was located in an adjacent tree about 40 ft high. All flight control surfaces were located at the accident site. The main wreckage was about 140 ft from the initial tree strike and consisted of the cockpit, portions of the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The engine was separated from the airframe and located the furthest from the initial tree strike. In addition, several pieces of the impacted tree exhibited approximately 45° angle cuts. The weather conditions reported at gad included wind from 210° at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; few clouds at 4,000 ft; temperature 24° c, dew point 16° c; and an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury. The wreckage was retained for further examination.