Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane crashed into a mountain slope near Shoshone while cruising at night from Salt Lake City to Hailey. The pilot failed to see and avoid the mountainous terrain, leading to a controlled collision with the ground. All three occupants of the aircraft were killed.
Circumstances
The flight was conducted at night under visual flight rules. The pilot was navigating from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hailey, Idaho. While en route, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain. The area forecast had indicated mountains occasionally obscured above 7,000 to 9,000 feet. Conditions included a low ceiling and dark night, which likely reduced visibility.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was a controlled collision with ground in normal cruise after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. Contributing factors reported were low ceiling, dark night, and an area forecast for mountains occasionally obscured above 7,000 to 9,000 feet.