What happened
During the return leg of a non-scheduled 14 CFR Part 135 VFR cross-country flight, an aircraft collided with mountainous terrain. Prior to the accident, the pilot had notified air traffic control that the flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) and was level at 8,500 feet MSL. The accident occurred during dark night conditions.
The aircraft struck the south-facing slope of a mountain at an elevation of approximately 9,100 feet above mean sea level. The crash site was located near the last recorded radar position of the flight.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage and impact signatures at the crash site indicated a high energy and shallow impact with the terrain. The investigation revealed no evidence of any mechanical problems with the aircraft.