What happened
The owner, acting as a student pilot, and an airline transport pilot (ATP) departed Olympia, WA at approximately 11:11 PST on a flight destined for the Lake Tahoe/Reno area. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, prompting a search operation that continued until December 22, 1982. On August 28, 1983, the wreckage was located on rising terrain with a steep 50-degree slope at an elevation of approximately 7,600 feet, roughly 600 feet below the mountain summit.
The aircraft impacted in a clearing surrounded by pine trees and came to rest inverted. The left wing was partially separated and positioned rearward. A member of the search team recalled that snow depths in the area ranged from 13 to 25 feet. Weather conditions during the week were described as marginal, with an NTSB weather summary indicating probable overcast bases at 8,000 feet MSL. Visibility was reported as three miles or more below clouds but zero inside them, with moderate icing between 5,000 and 13,000 feet MSL. Below 10,000 feet MSL, moderate turbulence and updrafts/downdrafts were present.
The investigation
Examination of the engine revealed extensive impact damage, but little or no damage was found on the propeller spinner or the leading edges of the propeller blades. Control surfaces were found in their expected positions: the throttle was full open, the mixture was rich, and the carburetor heat was on. The flap system was found in the up position. Crucially, no fuel was found in the inverted fuel tanks.
Findings
The combination of zero visibility inside clouds and fuel exhaustion contributed to the accident. The aircraft encountered severe weather conditions including moderate icing and turbulence while flying into mountainous terrain. The lack of fuel suggests the pilots were unable to reach their destination or an alternate airport before fuel depletion.