What happened
On May 24, 2012, a Gulfstream American AA-5A, registration N26837, crashed into the western slope of Hart Mountain in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, approximately 40 miles northeast of Lakeview, Oregon. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained 1 fatal injury.
The flight began when the pilot departed a private airstrip near Hubler, Idaho, to fly to Lakeview County Airport to drop off two passengers. After landing in Lakeview and deplaning the passengers, the pilot departed again, intending to return to Hubler. No flight plan had been filed for this leg of the journey.
GPS data tracked the aircraft's path as it moved north from Lakeview. After reaching a point near the east shoreline of Plush Lake, the aircraft performed a 90-degree left turn and then a 75-degree turn back to the right, following the western face of a steep mountain ridge. The data showed the pilot then initiated a 180-degree turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's groundspeed increased significantly and then suddenly dropped to 21 knots just before the final recorded position.
At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Weather reports indicated snow showers, patches of fog, and an overcast ceiling that was below the tops of the local terrain. A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect, noting snow, terrain obstructions, and gusty winds.
The investigation
Investigators recovered the wreckage near the 6,500-foot level of the mountain ridge. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, with the cabin area torn into small pieces. The engine remained attached to the firewall, and while the propeller and spinner showed significant impact damage, a post-accident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction that would have prevented normal operation.
Text messages recovered from the pilot's phone showed a series of communications with his wife. At 17:02, the pilot messaged that there was "zero visibility over the mountains." At 17:12, he messaged that he was "clear," though GPS data indicated he had not yet cleared the final mountain ridge where the impact occurred.