Accident Overview
According to radar data, the airplane was initially climbing at approximately 500 feet per minute (fpm). Over a 24-minute period prior to impact, the climb rate decreased to 350 fpm, then 240 fpm, and finally approximately 140 fpm.
Several witnesses fishing in the area reported hearing an airplane fly overhead. Shortly thereafter, they heard a loud explosion near the mountain peak and observed a rockslide, dust, and a plume of smoke. The sheriff's office was notified, and further investigation revealed the wreckage of a light twin-engine airplane.
Wreckage Location
The initial impact point was located at approximately 12,800 feet mean sea level (msl). The main wreckage came to rest at 12,500 feet msl.
Company Flight Routes
According to the company, a direct flight is preferred if weather allows. The company manual outlined two instrument flight rules routes with minimum en route altitudes (MEA) of 13,000 feet and 15,000 feet. A direct route travels over mountainous terrain with mountain peaks as high as 14,100 feet msl. Air Route Traffic Control Center reported the MEA for such a direct flight as 15,300 msl.
Pilot Fatigue Reports
According to family members, friends, and colleagues, the pilot was "tired" and displayed symptoms of "burnout." One colleague reported that during an extended flight, the pilot had fallen asleep while acting as pilot in command. Several other passengers who had flown with the pilot reported that he had fallen asleep during their flights. Friends and family members reported that the pilot was "sick of flying" and they were concerned about his "lack of time to sleep." They reported that the pilot had been awakened "in the middle of the night to come back to work" on several occasions. On the morning of the accident, the pilot made several requests for someone to accompany him during his flight because he was tired.