What happened
During a flight over a mountainous region, the pilot encountered heavy cloud cover that obscured the nearby summit. In an effort to avoid the obscured terrain, the pilot began a left-hand maneuver to return to a previous position. During this turn, the aircraft lost all visual reference with the ground below.
The aircraft type subsequently impacted the earth in a snow-covered area. The impact resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. While the pilot survived the crash with significant injuries, the passenger located in the cabin did not survive. Reports following the accident indicated that the aircraft was configured with only one seat; consequently, the passenger was positioned on the floor of the cabin without the benefit of a seat belt.
Findings
- The pilot lost visual contact with the terrain during an aerial maneuver.
- Cloud obscuration prevented the crew from maintaining situational awareness regarding the mountain summit.
- The passenger was not secured in a seat or restrained by a safety belt at the time of impact.