What happened
The flight originated from Kenosha with an intended destination of Atlanta, Georgia, via Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After picking up cargo in Milwaukee, the aircraft departed at 03:10 under visual flight rules. During the flight, the pilot obtained an IFR clearance and updated weather information; however, radio communications were noted as non-standard and unclear. Following a request from air traffic control to change frequencies, the pilot failed to respond to multiple attempts by controllers, with his final transmission recorded at 04:45.
The aircraft maintained a cruise altitude of 11,000 feet until 06:21, at which point it began an unauthorized descent. Radar contact was lost at 06:27. The plane struck trees on a mountain before impacting the ground and catching fire. An eyewitness observed that the engines appeared to have been throttled back prior to the impact, and noted that while fog and low clouds were present, the mountain remained visible.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors contributing to the accident. The pilot was found to be impaired by alcohol, with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.58‰. Additionally, the pilot had been awake for over 21 hours prior to the flight. Other contributing elements included inadequate preflight planning, poor judgment, and an uncontrolled descent into terrain. The investigation also highlighted systemic issues, including fatigue induced by the flight schedule, company-induced pressure, and a lack of adequate surveillance by the FAA regarding the pilot's history of alcohol abuse and falsified medical applications.