What happened
The pilot departed Phoenix International Airport around 0045 for the third leg of a six-leg bank run between Phoenix and Tucson International Airport. During departure, the pilot maintained contact with Phoenix TRACON and was released at the Toltec Intersection (V16) at an altitude of 5,500 feet. After this point, there was no further radio contact with the aircraft.
Both Tucson TRACON and the tower had been shut down after midnight. The aircraft overflew Tucson International Airport before impacting a mountain at 5,200 feet MSL in a slight nose-down attitude of approximately 2-3 degrees. A straight line drawn from the Toltec Intersection through Tucson International Airport into the Santa Rita Mountains specifically points to Mount Fagan as the approximate site of the crash.
The pilot was found unharmed at 0815 on March 15, 1982. Later that day, he flew another Beechcraft Baron sortie from 1630 to 1730, giving a pilot check-out for a commercial operator. He then returned home for supper and finally reported for normal duty at 2130.
The investigation
The crash site was located in the Santa Rita Mountains, specifically on Mount Fagan. The aircraft impacted terrain in a slight nose-down attitude after overflying the intended destination airport.