Accident Overview
The pilot altered his departure plans after being asked to collect a passenger from another airport before returning home, rather than flying directly to the original destination. He departed for the alternative airport under dark night conditions. After reaching cruise altitude, the aircraft impacted a mountain in level flight, approximately 25 miles from the point of departure.
Flight Sequence
Air Traffic Control lost communications and radar contact with the aircraft. They vectored another aircraft to the vicinity. The crew of that aircraft reported that instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area near the crash site at the time.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance in mountainous terrain. Contributing factors identified were dark night conditions, mountainous terrain, and instrument meteorological conditions.