Incident Overview
During a visual approach to the destination airport, the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain while in a level descent. Recorded radar data indicated that 10 minutes after descending from 15,000 feet, the flight impacted approximately 200 feet below the top of a partially obscured ridgeline with an elevation of 2,550 feet. The accident site was located about 8 miles from the destination airport. The flight path observed on radar was similar to the global positioning satellite (GPS) approach for the airport. Six minutes before the accident, the pilot made his last transmission to air traffic control, acknowledging that radar service was terminated. Radar contact was lost when the aircraft was 12.4 miles from the accident location.
Investigation Findings
Reduced visibility due to fog hindered search and rescue operations, and the aircraft wreckage was discovered the following day. The aircraft was equipped with a GPS navigation system, but the installation was incomplete, restricting its use to visual flight rules (VFR) only. The investigation could not determine if the GPS was being utilized at the time of the accident. Additionally, a non-enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System was installed aboard the aircraft. The maximum elevation figure listed on the sectional aeronautical chart covering the accident site and destination airport was 3,000 feet mean sea level. The chart also included an advisory for the area to use caution due to rapidly rising terrain.
Probable Cause
In-flight collision with terrain due to the pilot's failure to maintain clearance and altitude above rapidly rising terrain while on a VFR approach. Contributing factors were the obscuration of the terrain due to clouds.