While cruising parallel to the Seward - Anchorage highway at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a Kenai Civil Air Patrol Beechcraft A-45 Mentor registered N1406Z. Engaged in a SAR mission after a Cessna 170 was missing, the Mentor was carrying two pilots. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): Collision with other aircraft in normal cruise. The following contributing factors were reported: - Failed to see and avoid other aircraft, - Pilot of other aircraft, - Not under radar contact, - No control.