MIA95FA207

The pilot departed VFR and landed at an intermediate airport to check on the weather conditions along his route of flight. A weather briefing was obtained from a flight service station. The pilot was advised of a stationary front, and marginal VFR to IFR conditions along his route of flight. The pilot departed VFR. The airplane collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering in a descending right turn. IFR conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was located 11 days after the accident. The pilot's logbook was not found but friends of his reported that he 'had indicated verbally, several times, that he had not flown on instruments in IMC for over 20 years.'

History of flight

On August 8, 1995, a Cessna 210C, N3698Y, registered to a private owner did not arrive at its intended destination in New Orleans, Louisiana, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Roanoke, Virginia. The airplane was located on Burnt Mountain below Monument Road in Dawson County, Georgia, on August 19, 1995. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed and a postcrash fire ensued. The flight departed from Roanoke Regional Airport, Roanoke, Virginia, about 2 hours 12 minutes before the accident.

The pilot contacted Leesburg Automated Flight Service Station by telephone in Roanoke, Virginia, at 12:54 to obtain a weather briefing. He informed the weather briefer that the weather did not appear to be VFR to the southwest. The weather briefer informed the pilot that there was a stationary front extending along his route of flight. Weather conditions along the ridges were marginal VFR to IFR with mountain obscurement. The weather in the vicinity of Peachtree Dekalb, Atlanta, Georgia, was very marginal to IFR. The pilot terminated the weather briefing at 13:00.(For additional information see the Leesburg Automated Flight Service Station Transcript.)

Review of recorded communication between Roanoke Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Roanoke ATCT East Radar, and N3698Y indicates N3698Y departed Roanoke Airport at 1325. Radar service was terminated at 1328, and there was no other known radio communication with N3698Y. (For additional information see the transcripts of recorded communication.)

Personnel information

The pilot's logbook was destroyed by the postcrash fire. Friends of the pilot stated he had not flown instruments in years and was not current in instrument flying. Additional information pertaining to the pilot is contained in NTSB Form 6120.4.

Aircraft information

The airplane logbooks were not located and were presumed to have been destroyed by postcrash fire. Additional information pertaining to the airplane is contained in NTSB Form 6120.4.

Meteorological information

The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Peachtree-Dekalb Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia, located 32 miles to the southeast. The 2050 surface weather observation indicates the ceiling was 900 overcast, visibility was 5 miles with fog and haze. The United States Department of Interior Geological Survey Map for Amicalola, Georgia, indicates that the elevation of Burnt Mountain is 3,285 feet. The airplane crashed at an elevation of 1,962 feet. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. (For additional information see NTSB Form 6120.4)

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage of N3698Y was located about 538 feet below Monument Road on Burnt Mountain in the vicinity of the Georgia Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County, Georgia.

Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with trees about 45 feet above the base of the trees in a descending right turn on a heading of about 310 degrees separating the right wing. The airplane rolled right, and the left wing collided with a tree about 6 feet above the base of the tree separating the wing in two sections. The left and right fuel tanks were ruptured. The airplane collided with the ground, bounced, and skidded about 49 feet before it came to rest on a heading of 360 degrees, about 101 feet from the initial point of impact. The propeller separated from the propeller flange. Torsional twisting, chordwise scarring, and "s" bending was present on both propeller blades. The cabin area was destroyed by a postcrash fire.

Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly, and accessories revealed no evidence to indicate a precrash failure or malfunction.

Medical and pathological information

Post-mortem examination and post-mortem toxicology studies of specimens was not performed. The remains consisted of a very limited amount of bony fragments which had been exposed to fire and extreme heat. Identification of the pilot was made from dentures, a lower portion of the pilot's lower mandible recovered at the crash site, and denture molds provided by the pilot's dentist. Mr. William O. Burnham, Dawson County Corner, Dawsonville, Georgia, ruled the caused of death was high speed impact trauma and incineration.

Additional information

The wreckage of N3698Y was released to Chief Deputy Henry M. George Jr., Dawson County Sheriff Department, Dawsonville, Georgia, on August 21, 1995. The engine assembly and accessories was released to Mr. Rodman Hart, Blueridge Aviation, Gainesville, Georgia, on August 21, 1995.