Flight Details
A VFR cross-country air taxi flight departed with six passengers for a remote village. The pilot had previously flown the accident route through a mountainous area, using a mountain pass at about 200 feet above ground level. However, he determined that route was not suitable for the accident flight with passengers.
Accident Sequence
During the accident flight, the pilot proceeded east of the previously used mountain pass. The flight still required transiting an area of low hills. As the flight approached the destination, snow-covered terrain was rising toward low clouds over the mountains. The pilot observed what he thought was the approach end of the destination airport and began a descent. The apparent runway was actually a creek bottom. The pilot started a turn, observed rising terrain, stopped the turn, and applied full power. The airplane collided with rising terrain in a whiteout condition at about 900 feet mean sea level.
Passenger Account
A passenger reported that about 10 minutes after departure, the airplane entered an area of fog at an altitude of 3,000 feet mean sea level. The passenger's view of the ground disappeared, and the area around the airplane was completely white. About 5 minutes after entering the fog, the airplane collided with snow-covered terrain.