ATL82FA093

Factual narrative

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ABOUT 5 MI EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WHEN THE AIRPORT OPERATOR WENT HOME AT ABOUT 1830 EST, HE NOTED THAT A 350 FT MOUNTAIN PEAK NEAR HIS HOME WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. AT ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, HE ESTIMATED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/8 TO 1/4 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN AND DRIZZLE. AT ABOUT 2000 EST, WITNESSES HEARD AN AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS DESCRIBED AS INCREASING AND DECREASING ALTERNATELY, THEN IT CEASED ABRUPTLY WITH THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT. THE PILOT'S WIFE, WHO WAS A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SAID THAT HIS HABIT WAS TO USE THE 090 DEG RADIAL OF THE SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN VORTAC TO FLY OVER THE AIRPORT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12