At 1004 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted snow-covered terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. Instrument conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. A lineman saw the airplane take off and disappear into the overcast. Shortly thereafter, he heard an airplane make passes over the airport but could not see it. On the fifth pass, he saw the accident airplane flying east to west approximately 50 feet above the ground, barely clearing trees. The pilot called ATC and told the controller he had just taken off and had gotten “lost in the fog.” When radio and radar communications were lost, authorities were notified. The wreckage was located at approximately 1130.
