What happened
A commercial certificated pilot departed on a scheduled domestic VFR flight carrying U.S. mail as cargo. The intended route involved traversing mountainous terrain. During the flight planning process, a flight station specialist notified the pilot of active AIRMETs regarding mountain obscuration and icing.
After completing a mail delivery at an intermediate stop, the pilot notified authorities that he was inbound to a planned refueling destination. However, the aircraft failed to arrive. An ELT signal was subsequently detected 22 miles north of the intended refueling stop.
The wreckage was located the following day along a direct line between the intermediate stop and the refueling destination. The aircraft collided at high speed with the side of a 4,720-foot mountain at an elevation of 4,500 feet MSL. At the time of the accident, area forecasts indicated ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibility of less than 3 statute miles in mist and light rain. Active AIRMETs included moderate rime icing between 6,000 and 18,000 feet and mountain obscuration due to clouds and precipitation. Search personnel noted that mountain tops near the ELT signal were obscured by snow showers and fog, and the accident site was covered in approximately 4 inches of snow.
Findings
The investigation determined the impact occurred during flight into terrain while operating under visual flight rules in weather conditions characterized by low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountain obscuration.