Accident Overview
An aircraft departed from South Lake Tahoe, California, at night. Shortly after departure, the pilot contacted Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and requested radar flight following. A short time later, the pilot declared an emergency and reported a loss of engine power, stating that he was reversing course.
Loss of Contact and Crash
Radar and radio contact with the aircraft were lost as it returned over mountainous terrain. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the west face of a mountain approximately 10 miles west of the departure airport.
Wreckage Recovery and Investigation
Due to the remote location, the wreckage was not examined until it was recovered on June 4, 1987. During the investigation, no preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. The fuel selector valve was discovered in the OFF position.