Flight Details
The accident involved a scheduled visual flight rules (VFR) commuter flight with a certificated airline transport pilot and nine passengers. The flight departed for a destination located approximately 160 miles south of the departure airport.
Weather Conditions
The terminal forecast for the destination airport, situated in Class E airspace, indicated visibility greater than six miles with scattered clouds at 2,500 feet. Temporary conditions included visibility of five miles in light rain and snow, with broken clouds at 2,000 feet. While en route, an obscured ceiling began to lower. The pilot descended to 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot reported visibility decreased to between three and four miles, leading him to follow a road toward the destination. About six miles north of the destination, the pilot obtained an airport advisory. The weather at the destination airport was reported as one mile visibility in light snow and mist with a ceiling of 1,000 feet broken. The pilot requested a Special VFR clearance.
Accident Sequence
As in-flight visibility decreased to one mile, the pilot decided to initiate a right turn back to an area of better visibility. During the turn, he reported entering white-out conditions. He leveled the wings of the airplane and applied engine power to begin a climb. The airplane then collided with snow-covered terrain at an elevation of about 850 feet msl. The accident site is located approximately one mile north of the Class E airspace.