What happened
During an approach to Big Piney Airport, a twin engine airplane encountered severe weather conditions characterized by snow and a low cloud ceiling. While attempting to land, the aircraft descended too low and struck the ground several miles away from the airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were no survivors among the six fatalities recorded in the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crash was a result of controlled flight into terrain during the final approach phase. Several environmental and operational factors contributed to the event, including:
- Low visibility caused by a low ceiling
- Precipitation in the form of snow
- The weather briefing provided to the crew by ground personnel at Big Piney