Discovery and Search
According to the investigation, the airplane did not arrive at its destination airport several hours after departure. Radar data prompted a search in an area approximately 80 miles south of where the aircraft was ultimately located. Days later, the airplane was discovered at the 1,500-foot level of a mountain ridge.
The location was identified after an eyewitness reported observing a low-flying airplane near the accident site on the day of the occurrence. The same witness also noted low ceilings in the vicinity of the accident site around the time of the event.
Examination Findings
A detailed examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or system malfunction. The investigation did not identify any pre-existing defects or anomalies that could explain the accident.
Conditions at the Time
The eyewitness account of low ceilings suggests that weather may have been a factor, although the official report does not state a cause. The aircraft was found on a ridge, indicating controlled flight into terrain is possible, but no direct conclusions are drawn in the source.