What happened
The aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was successfully received by search and rescue personnel. However, an immediate aerial search for the wreckage could not be conducted due to poor weather conditions in the area. Witnesses on the ground reported that low ceiling heights, rain, and fog were present in the vicinity on the day of the accident.
The aircraft wreckage was eventually located three days after the incident occurred. The site was situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet mean sea level (MSL) within a remote mountain pass. This specific location is noted as a frequently used visual flight rules (VFR) route through the Cascade Mountains.
The investigation
The passage of a frontal weather system cleared the low clouds and visibility issues that had previously prevented aerial search efforts, allowing for the recovery of the wreckage.