What happened
A charter flight departing from Las Vegas Airport toward the Grand Canyon ended in a fatal accident near Peach Springs. The twin engine airplane was transporting nine passengers, including tourists from the United States, France, and West Germany, along with the pilot.
During the flight, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions. In an attempt to maneuver away from the inclement weather, the pilot initiated a turn but subsequently lost control of the aircraft. The plane descended rapidly into the terrain, impacting the ground approximately 39 miles north of Peach Springs.
Search efforts located the wreckage one day after the incident in the vicinity of the Shivwits Plateau, near Parashant Canyon. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 10 fatalities resulting from the crash, as all occupants on board were killed.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. Contributing environmental factors included low cloud ceilings as well as the presence of rain and snow during the flight.