The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2055 Eastern time when it impacted trees and terrain before coming to rest inverted in a heavily wooded area. Night instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The non-instrument rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured.
The flight originated at North Myrtle Beach, S.C., earlier in the day and was in cruise flight at the time of the accident. The initial impact point was at an elevation of 2980 feet msl. The debris field from the initial tree strike was approximately 650 feet in length and on a heading of 045 degrees. Several trees along the debris field had impact marks.
