Incident Overview
A charter flight intended to pick up passengers encountered adverse weather conditions and struck a mountain. The pilot originally scheduled to conduct the flight declined due to low ceilings in the mountainous destination area. The company owner instead piloted the aircraft.
Witness Observations
Witnesses near the destination observed the aircraft flying in and out of clouds, maneuvering between and below the surrounding mountain tops. They estimated the aircraft's altitude to be between 150 and 300 feet above ground level. The destination airport, located three miles from the crash site, was completely obscured by fog, with visibility reported as less than 100 yards.
Accident Details
The aircraft ultimately struck the top of a cloud-covered mountain. No further details on the aircraft or occupants were provided in the source.
Pilot History
The pilot had previously been cited by the Federal Aviation Administration for violations of Federal Aviation Regulations, including careless and reckless operation of an aircraft.