What happened
While returning from a cargo off-loading mission at a remote location on the western side of a mountain range, the flight crew encountered rapidly declining weather conditions. Before the departure, the environment had begun to transition into marginal VFR conditions, characterized by heavy rain, lowering cloud ceilings, turbulence, and winds exceeding 50 knots. An active AIRMET had previously forecasted mountain obscuration, high winds, and turbulence for the area.
The crew had the choice of navigating through a lower mountain pass or flying directly over the peaks. Radar analysis of a target believed to be the aircraft showed a flight path traveling directly over the mountains from the departure point toward the destination. Data from the Mode C transponder was unavailable, so altitude estimates were derived from radar plots. The aircraft reached a peak altitude of roughly 10,800 feet before descending as it approached the western edge of the range. The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered near the crest of a ridge at 2,900 feet MSL. The impact was of such high velocity that the aircraft was completely destroyed, with debris scattered across both sides of the ridge.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the wreckage revealed no mechanical failures or anomalies. The investigation focused on the flight path and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident.