Accident Overview
An airline transport pilot was conducting a scheduled passenger flight in remote, snow-covered mountainous terrain with seven passengers on board. The pilot reported that, after receiving a weather briefing, he chose to fly under visual flight rules (VFR). During the flight, the visibility deteriorated, and the pilot descended to a lower altitude to follow a river. While maneuvering for approach, the airplane collided with rising terrain.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, while en route at about 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the visibility began getting "fuzzy." He descended to 2,500 ft msl (500 ft above ground level) to fly along a river. When the airplane was about 10 miles southwest of the airport, he climbed to about 3,000 ft msl to conduct a straight-in approach. The pilot stated that the visibility was again a little "fuzzy" due to snow and clouds, and that he never saw the airport. He noted that flat light conditions limited his ability to determine distance from the surrounding mountainous, snow-covered terrain. Shortly after climbing to 3,000 ft msl, the airplane collided with rising terrain about 6 miles southwest of the airport.
Weather Conditions
Another pilot, who had just departed from the airport, confirmed that flat light and low-visibility conditions existed at the time of the accident. Camera images of weather conditions recorded at the airport showed that, although conditions were marginal VFR at the surface, there was mountain obscuration and reduced visibility due to light snow and clouds along the accident flight path. The worst conditions were located along and near the higher terrain.
Findings
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot encountered flat light and low-visibility conditions as he neared the airport at 3,000 ft msl while operating under VFR and that he did not see the rising, snow-covered mountainous terrain, subsequently failing to maintain clearance from it.