Accident Overview
A pilot and passenger departed on a night instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. Weather en route consisted of a mixture of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and visual meteorological conditions (VMC). When the airplane was 17 miles southwest of its destination, the pilot was cleared for an instrument approach. At 9 miles from the airport, the pilot reported the airport in sight and canceled his IFR clearance.
Descent and Loss of Radar Contact
The airplane continued to descend toward the airport on a modified left base until radar contact was lost at 3,300 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot was in radio contact with his wife just prior to the accident, advising her that he was on base for runway 32. Neither the pilot's wife nor air traffic control (ATC) received a distress call from the pilot.
Wreckage Location and Condition
The airplane was located the next morning approximately 100 feet below the top of a mountain. The accident site was 7.9 miles from the airport and about 1,200 feet above the airport elevation. A level path was cut through the trees preceding the main wreckage. Examination of both engines and the airframe revealed no pre-impact failures or malfunctions.
Weather Conditions
Ground-based weather radar recorded light snow showers in the general vicinity of the accident site around the time of the accident. Satellite imagery showed that the airplane was operating under a solid overcast.
Probable Cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain sufficient altitude while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were the dark night, mountainous terrain, snow showers, clouds, and the pilot's decision to cancel his IFR clearance.