At about 1250 eastern time, a Cessna 177 struck rising terrain near Old Fort during a flight from Asheville, N.C., to Salisbury, N.C. The pilot and two passengers were killed. The pilot told Asheville controllers he intended to fly east at 4,500 feet but the controller informed the pilot of an overcast layer at 2,500 feet. The pilot acknowledged and stated he may need to deviate off course to avoid low clouds in the mountains. When the controller terminated radar service about eight minutes after takeoff, the pilot stated he was following Interstate 40 through the mountains. An air search party located the wreckage the next morning at the 2,900-foot level of Kitsuma Peak in the Pisgah National Forest, 18 miles east of Asheville Regional Airport.
March 14, Old Fort, N.C. / Cessna 177
At about 1250 eastern time, a Cessna 177 struck rising terrain near Old Fort during a flight from Asheville, N.C., to Salisbury, N.C. The pilot and two passengers were killed. The pilot told Asheville controllers he intended to fly east at 4,500 feet but the controller informed the pilot of an overcast layer at 2,500 feet. The pilot acknowledged and stated he may need to deviate off course to avoid low clouds in the mountains. When the controller terminated radar service about eight minutes after takeoff, the pilot stated he was following Interstate 40 through the mountains. An air search party located the wreckage the next morning at the 2,900-foot level of Kitsuma Peak in the Pisgah Nation...
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna 177 crashed into rising terrain near Old Fort, NC, killing the pilot and two passengers.
- Prior to the crash, the pilot was advised of an overcast layer at 2,500 feet despite intending to fly at 4,500 feet, acknowledging the need to deviate due to low clouds.
- The pilot last reported following Interstate 40 through the mountains before radar service terminated.
- The wreckage was located the next morning at the 2,900-foot level of Kitsuma Peak in the Pisgah National Forest.
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