What happened
The flight crew initiated an approach to McChord Air Force Base but was advised that landing was not feasible due to adverse weather conditions. The captain subsequently elected to divert back to Fresno. While en route, while flying east of Coos Bay, the crew made the decision to abandon the aircraft. The plane crashed into a wooded area situated approximately 42 miles east of Coos Bay.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene two days after the incident. During the operation, nine occupants were successfully evacuated from the area. However, two individuals remained inside the wreckage and were killed. A third person was never located. The specific reasons why these individuals were not rescued or found remain unexplained in the available records.
Findings
The investigation into this event has not determined a definitive cause. The exact circumstances leading to the crash and the subsequent fatalities are currently unknown.