What happened
Following a change in the original flight plan, the pilot was instructed to divert from a direct route to a new destination to collect a passenger before completing the journey. The flight proceeded under dark night conditions. While maintaining a steady cruise altitude, the aircraft struck the side of a mountain. The collision occurred approximately 25 miles away from the airport of departure.
After the aircraft disappeared from radar and radio communications ceased, Air Traffic Control directed a separate aircraft to the area to investigate. The crew of the searching aircraft reported that the region was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.