What happened
On the evening of the accident, an aircraft was operating under visual flight rules despite an instrument flight rules plan having been filed. The pilot did not activate this flight plan prior to departure. Radar tracking indicated that the aircraft maintained an altitude of 6,300 feet during the latter portion of its flight. At approximately 17:12 EST, the aircraft began a descent. One minute later, radar data recorded the plane at an altitude of 3,700 feet.
The aircraft subsequently struck a mountain peak located at an elevation of 3,165 feet. The impact site was situated at an elevation of roughly 3,000 feet. At the time investigators reached the wreckage, the terrain was characterized by rocky ground covered in snow and ice. Weather conditions near Keene, NH, at 17:55 EST included a broken ceiling at 3,200 feet and overcast skies at 5,500 feet, with visibility spanning 10 miles.
The accident resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors. The pilot initiated a descent while encountering clouds and low ceilings. Additionally, the flight occurred during dusk, which impacted visual detection of the terrain. The investigation concluded that the pilot made improper in-flight planning and decision-making choices, specifically failing to maintain a safe altitude while maneuvering through mountainous, snow-covered terrain.