Accident Sequence
A twin-engine airplane was descending toward King Cove Airport under marginal weather conditions characterized by fog and rain. The aircraft was too low and subsequently struck the slope of a mountain located southeast of King Cove. The collision destroyed the aircraft, and all six occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain. The probable cause was improper in-flight decisions by the pilot-in-command. Several contributing factors were identified.
Contributing Factors
The investigation reported that the crew had not adequately prepared for the flight. Supervision of the flight crew was insufficient. Environmental conditions included a low ceiling and rain. The approach was conducted at low altitude in mountainous terrain, and the crew was not familiar with the geography of the destination.