Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to attain sufficient altitude to remain clear of rising terrain and objects. Factors related to the accident were darkness and rising terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Shortly after takeoff at about 2345 eastern daylight time, the airplane struck a static wire and collided with terrain at an elevation of 1,900 feet mean sea level. The power company reported that the position of the static wire is about 280 feet above the terrain at an altitude of 1,690 feet mean sea level. The accident site was located about 1.2 miles from the airport. The departed airport's elevation was 730 feet mean sea level. The airplane was destroyed by post impact fire. No airframe or engine anomalies were noted. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident and patches of ground fog were reported around the area. The commercial pilot's log book was not recovered.
Source record
Factual narrative
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