Flight Details
The airplane was operating a charter flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an intermediate stop at Provo, Utah. The passengers were football supporters. The aircraft departed from Salt Lake City Airport.
Accident Sequence
Four minutes after departure, at an altitude of 5,500 feet, the airplane encountered poor weather conditions and struck the slope of a mountain located 22 miles south of Salt Lake City. The wreckage was found 11 feet below the summit, which is 5,449 feet high. The aircraft was one mile east of the intended track at the time of the accident. The impact destroyed the airplane.
Occupants and Crew
All 13 occupants were killed in the accident. Among the deceased was the captain, Garth Edde, who founded Edde Airlines in 1960.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the crew flew under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in adverse weather conditions. The crew exercised poor judgment.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident, as stated in the official findings, is that the crew flew under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and exercised poor judgment.