Accident Overview
The accident occurred during a scheduled domestic VFR flight carrying U.S. mail as cargo. The commercial certificated pilot had received a full weather briefing before departure. The intended route traversed mountainous terrain.
Flight Progression
After opening the flight plan, a flight station specialist advised the pilot of AIRMETs (Airman’s Meteorological Information) for mountain obscuration and icing. The flight proceeded to an intermediate stop, where mail was dropped. The pilot then communicated that he was inbound to a planned refueling stop. The airplane never arrived at the refueling destination.
Search and Discovery
An Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was reported 22 miles north of the refueling destination. The accident site was located the following day along a direct line between the intermediate stop and the refueling destination.
Collision Details
The airplane collided at high speed with a mountainside at an elevation of 4,500 feet mean sea level on a 4,720-foot mountain.
Weather Conditions
The area forecast indicated occasional ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibility below 3 statute miles in light rain and mist. AIRMETs had been issued for mountain obscuration, with mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and precipitation. Additional AIRMETs warned of occasional moderate rime icing in clouds and precipitation from 6,000 to 18,000 feet.
Environmental Context
Search personnel reported that the mountain tops in the area of the ELT signal were obscured by fog and snow showers. The accident site was covered by approximately 4 inches of snow.