Flight History
The pilot and two passengers had arrived at Jackson Hole Airport (JAX) approximately 30 minutes before the accident. After dropping off the passengers, the pilot entered the operations area for a short break before returning to the aircraft alone for a return flight to California. The pilot had departed Redding, California at 1357 hours and had been on continuous flight duty from that time until the accident.
Weather Conditions
The night was described as very dark, with a 2000-foot overcast ceiling and no visible horizon.
Witness Observations
A witness stated that the pilot seemed to be tired and hungry. The aircraft was observed making a normal night takeoff. However, as the aircraft turned from crosswind to downwind, witnesses noted that the pilot appeared to have trouble controlling the aircraft.
Accident Sequence
After making a few extreme up-and-down maneuvers, the aircraft proceeded to the east. The next time it was observed, it was again climbing and descending rapidly before subsequently impacting the ground in a vertical dive.