What happened
During a night-time commercial air ambulance operation, an aircraft departed from an airport situated at 6,814 feet MSL to transport a 15-month-old patient between medical facilities. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft began a left turn toward the north. Satellite tracking data indicated the plane was traveling at 115 knots on a course of 072 degrees at an altitude of 6,811 feet MSL. The aircraft subsequently struck terrain at an elevation of 6,860 feet MSL, approximately 4 miles southeast of the departure airfield.
The crash resulted in five fatalities, including the pilot, a flight nurse, a paramedic, the patient, and the patient's mother. Following the failure of the aircraft to reach its destination, a search operation was launched, and the wreckage was discovered the following morning. The debris field, which stretched 1,100 feet down a 4.5-degree slope, showed a path of travel moving away from the intended destination.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft's landing gear and flaps were retracted at the time of impact. Analysis of the engine and propeller assemblies showed evidence of the engine operating within a mid to high power range. While the control cables and push rods showed breaks consistent with overload, investigators found no evidence of mechanical malfunctions occurring prior to the impact.
Toxicology results for the pilot showed the presence of acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine, though the lack of blood samples prevented a determination of the exact timing or level of impairment. The investigation concluded that the spatial disorientation of the pilot, influenced by the dark night conditions, the flight path, and the pilot's experience level, was consistent with the circumstances of the accident.