Accident Overview
A public-use flight operated by the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services crashed at Minot International Airport in North Dakota. The aircraft departed under visual flight rules from Devils Lake, North Dakota, with an intended destination of Rolla, North Dakota. The pilot attempted two visual approaches at Rolla but encountered whiteout conditions due to a snow storm. He obtained an instrument flight rules clearance and diverted to Minot.
Final Approaches
At Minot, the pilot conducted two instrument landing system approaches to runway 31. After each approach, he reported a missed approach. Radio contact was lost following the second missed approach. Approximately one hour later, a snow plow operator discovered wreckage on the airport grounds.
Wreckage and Conditions
Investigation revealed that the airplane had impacted the terrain to the right of runway 31 with the landing gear retracted and the flaps extended to 15 degrees. The weather at 0959 reported: 600 feet obscured, visibility 1/2 mile variable in snow, wind from 110 degrees at 11 knots. No preimpact mechanical anomaly was found with the airplane or its engines. All four occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain proper altitude during a missed approach. Factors related to the accident were the unfavorable weather and snow-covered terrain.