Incident Summary
A VFR-only Part 135 on-demand sightseeing flight entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and collided with terrain. The accident occurred during a flight that was required to operate under visual flight rules (VFR). The surviving passenger reported that as the flight progressed, the ceiling and visibility deteriorated.
Witness and Survivor Accounts
Witnesses in the area reported heavy fog and estimated the ceiling to be 50 feet with visibility of one-quarter mile. The surviving passenger provided firsthand information about the worsening weather conditions during the flight.
Operational Context
The company's training program and operations policies and procedures did not address VFR flight in marginal weather conditions. The flight was conducted under Part 135 regulations, which permit on-demand operations.
Occupants and Fatalities
A passenger survived the accident. Six other occupants were killed, among them three Dutch and two Swiss citizens. The nationalities of the remaining deceased were not specified in the source.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause states: The pilot of the VFR only flight intentionally entered instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in the accident were the inadequate procedures/directives by the company/operator management concerning continued VFR flight in marginal weather conditions and the fog.