What happened
During a mission to transport medical personnel for clinical work in local villages, an aircraft departed following a period of waiting for favorable weather. The flight was intended to carry a dentist and a technical assistant to various locations. Following the initial departure radio call, no further communications were received from the crew.
The flight encountered marginal weather conditions characterized by fog, freezing drizzle, and icing. While performing a descending turn, the aircraft type struck an upward slope of a mountain at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. The impact caused the airframe to disintegrate, leaving debris scattered across a distance of 493 feet.
The accident resulted in two fatalities. The pilot and one passenger were found within the main wreckage, while the right front passenger was ejected from the aircraft and located near the crash site. During recovery operations, investigators observed ice accumulation ranging from 1/8 to 3/4 inches thick on the wings and other structural components.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the flight environment and decision-making. The aircraft encountered icing conditions and fog during the flight. The investigation concluded that the pilot in command performed a VFR flight into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions). Additionally, the findings noted that the weather evaluation and preflight planning conducted by the pilot were inadequate.