Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane crashed into a mountain while descending to Sitka under limited visibility conditions. The accident site was located a few miles from the intended destination. The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and all five occupants were killed.
Circumstances
The flight was on approach to Sitka when it encountered low visibility. During the descent, the aircraft struck mountainous terrain. The exact sequence of events leading to the collision has been documented in the official investigation.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during the final approach. Contributing factors included improper instrument flight rules (IFR) operation, the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft, and the obscuration of mountains adjacent to Sitka.