What happened
The pilot was last seen refueling the aircraft at the departure airport. After the flight failed to arrive at its intended destination, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued and search efforts were initiated. The wreckage was located approximately two months after the accident.
During the descent, the aircraft followed a nose-down, near vertical descent profile, impacting trees and terrain while presumably maneuvering toward a rapidly rising mountain ridgeline. The impact resulted in the aft crushing of the cockpit and cabin area. The 2 fatal occupants, the pilot and a passenger, were found still on board the wreckage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage located at the base of a stand of trees. A pine tree, measuring approximately 8 inches in circumference, was found underneath and adjacent to the aircraft; this tree had been cut into 36-inch logs, which indicated an operative engine and rotating propeller at the time of impact.
Topographic mapping of the accident site showed the wreckage was situated about 400 feet below a ridgeline ranging from 9,000 to 9,300 feet. The aircraft came to rest below a small gap in the rising ridge. The terrain between the valley and the accident site featured an average grade of 22 percent, while the grade from the accident site to the top of the ridge averaged 20 percent. No air traffic control services were provided to the pilot, and no radar data was available for the flight.