Accident Overview
An airplane departed under daytime visual meteorological conditions on a cross-country flight from an airport on the east side of a mountain range to a destination on the west side. The aircraft was receiving flight following services. It subsequently collided with upsloping mountainous terrain in a mountain pass while in controlled flight after encountering instrument meteorological conditions.
Communication and Radar Data
The controller terminated radar services due to anticipated loss of radar coverage within the mountainous pass area and instructed the pilot to contact the next sector after clearing the pass, while staying northwest of an interstate highway because of opposing traffic on the south side. The pilot later inquired whether a northwesterly heading was still required; the controller responded that no such heading had been assigned. No further communications were received.
Radar data indicated that while proceeding on a northeasterly course, the airplane climbed to 6,400 feet mean sea level (msl). Minutes later, it turned to an easterly heading and climbed to 6,900 feet msl. The airplane then began descending in a right turn from 6,900 feet to 5,800 feet msl before radar contact was lost approximately 0.65 miles southeast of the accident site.
Weather Conditions
A weather observation station at the departure airport reported a scattered cloud layer at 10,000 feet above ground level (agl). A system about 29 miles southwest of the accident site reported a broken cloud layer at 4,000 feet agl. A pilot flying westbound at 8,500 feet through the same pass near the accident time reported overcast cloud cover in the area that extended west of the mountains, with a ceiling around 4,000 feet msl and cloud tops at 7,000 feet msl or higher throughout the area.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airframe and both engines revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.