What happened
Following an instrument flight rules clearance, the flight was instructed to climb and hold 5,000 feet, with an expected transition to flight level 220 ten minutes after departure. While the crew initially read back these instructions accurately, a communication error occurred shortly after takeoff. A member of the flight crew requested a higher altitude and subsequently misstated their intended altitude as 2,200 feet. Although air traffic control corrected the crew, stating they should remain at 5,000 feet, no further radio contact was established by the aircraft.
The wreckage was discovered at an elevation of roughly 2,300 feet, situated approximately 4.8 miles west of the departure airfield. The impact occurred within a wooded area characterized by up-sloping terrain. Investigators noted a path of debris beginning where several trees had been broken at a consistent height.
At the time of the accident, weather reports from an airport located about 12 miles north-northwest of the site indicated low cloud cover, with few clouds at 300 feet and an overcast ceiling at 1,700 feet.
Findings
- The primary cause was the pilot-in-command's failure to adhere to the assigned air traffic control altitude clearance, which led to the collision with the terrain.
- Low cloud ceilings were identified as a contributing factor in the accident.