Accident Overview
The airplane was being repositioned to another airport during nighttime hours. The flight path traversed mountainous terrain. The aircraft collided with the top of a 4,600-foot bluff. The wreckage path was measured to be 567 feet in length, oriented directly along the course line from the departure point to the destination. Damage to the engine and propeller was consistent with the engine developing power at the time of impact.
Pilot Information
The pilot had a history of transient global amnesia, a medical condition characterized by temporary episodes of memory loss.
Determination of Cause
The official probable cause for the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during descent for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors included the dark night and the mountainous terrain.