What happened
A flight departing from an airport on the eastern side of a mountain range was traveling toward a destination on the western side of the range. The flight began under visual meteorological conditions, but the aircraft subsequently encountered instrument meteorological conditions. During the flight, air traffic control terminated radar services because the aircraft was expected to move into an area where radar coverage would be lost within the mountain pass. The controller instructed the pilot to contact the next sector after passing through the mountains and advised the pilot to maintain a position northwest of an interstate highway to avoid opposing traffic.
Following this instruction, the pilot inquired whether a northwesterly heading was still required. The controller clarified that no northwesterly heading had been assigned. Radar tracking indicated that while traveling on a northeasterly course, the aircraft climbed to 6,400 feet MSL. Shortly after, the aircraft turned to an easterly heading and climbed further to 6 attainment of 6,900 feet MSL. The aircraft then began a descent during a right turn, dropping from 6,900 feet to 5,800 feet MSL. The aircraft disappeared from radar approximately 0.65 miles southeast of the impact site.
Weather reports from the time of the accident indicated varying cloud layers. A station at the departure airport noted scattered clouds at 10,000 feet AGL, while a station 29 miles southwest of the site reported broken clouds at 4,000 feet AGL. Another pilot operating in the area reported overcast conditions with a ceiling of approximately 4,000 feet MSL and cloud tops exceeding 7,000 feet MSL. Post-accident inspections of the airframe and both engines showed no mechanical failures that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered instrument meteorological conditions while navigating through a mountain pass.
- The aircraft collided with upslope terrain during a descent and right turn.
- No mechanical anomalies were found in the engines or airframe.