What happened
During a flight through the Cascade Mountain Range, a single engine airplane was operating at a low altitude while navigating mountainous terrain. As the pilot approached a mountain pass within a canyon, an attempt was made to increase the aircraft's altitude. However, the plane was unable to clear the ascending landscape and subsequently collided with trees. The accident occurred in a forested region situated near Stevens Pass.
Search efforts located the wreckage a few hours after the impact. There were seven fatalities resulting from the crash, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors that led to the collision with trees. The pilot's decision-making during the flight was cited as a primary factor, specifically regarding the inability to maintain clearance from the terrain. Contributing elements included:
- Flying at an inappropriately low altitude
- Errors in judging the aircraft's speed, distance, and altitude
- Insufficient preparation prior to the flight
- The presence of high obstacles in the flight path
- The aircraft was loaded beyond its maximum gross weight and featured an aft center of gravity