Departure and Witness Account
The accident occurred during a dark night with zero percent moon illumination. A witness reported watching the airplane depart from runway 15. After takeoff, the airplane climbed and appeared to rise above lights situated on top of a mountain. The airplane then initiated a left turn toward the east. Several seconds after the turn began, the witness saw the airplane start to lose altitude.
Final Moments
The airplane eventually disappeared from the witness's view. Shortly thereafter, the witness heard the engine's revolutions per minute (rpm) increase, followed by a sound described as a "crash sound."
Ground Contact and Examination
Investigators identified the first point of ground contact at a location 0.52 miles from the airport on a magnetic bearing of 105 degrees. A subsequent examination of both the airframe and engine revealed no catastrophic failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or its engine.
Investigation
No probable cause has been determined for the accident. The examination did not identify any mechanical or structural issues that could explain the collision with terrain.