Accident Summary
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside after the pilot attempted low-level visual flight through a mountain pass under deteriorating weather, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries.
Sequence of Events
The copilot reported that the aircraft was flying below the cloud deck at an altitude of about 300 to 500 feet above ground level. The pilot-in-command intended to traverse the Katberg Pass while remaining beneath the clouds. As the aircraft neared the mountainous terrain, the cloud base descended, creating a critical situation. The pilot called for maximum except takeoff (METO) power in an attempt to clear the hills. However, the right wing struck trees, followed by the right engine propeller impacting the rising ground.
Wreckage Location and Casualties
The aircraft came to rest against a rock face approximately 250 yards from the initial point of impact with the trees, and about 500 feet from the top of the hill. Two crew members were killed, while five other occupants sustained injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation attributed the accident to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot-in-command, who attempted low visual flight beneath the cloud base near mountains in deteriorating weather conditions.