What happened
During a flight through heavy snow showers, a twin engine aircraft impacted a mountain slope and burst into flames. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Knoxville under conditions of restricted visibility caused by falling snow. At the time of the impact, the cloud ceiling was measured at 2,000 feet, and the mountain terrain was obscured by clouds.
The crash resulted in six fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants. The aircraft struck the elevated terrain while operating in weather that significantly reduced visual references.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the crew failed to sufficiently prepare for the flight conditions. The investigation determined that the pilots continued to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite encountering adverse weather. This decision led to the aircraft flying at an altitude that was insufficient to clear the obstructing mountain terrain.