What happened
A flight traveling from San Rafael toward New York, with scheduled stops at Williams AFB in Chandler, Arizona, and San Angelo, Texas, crashed into the Armer mountain range. The aircraft was transporting 19 cadets from West Point Academy, five passengers, and a crew of four.
During the approach to Phoenix from the northeast, the aircraft was cruising at approximately 8,000 feet in marginal weather conditions. While the pilot had been cleared to descend to 6,000 feet, air traffic control queried the aircraft's position relative to Mt White Tank. Although the pilot indicated that the mountain had been passed five minutes prior, the controller expressed doubt regarding this positioning.
Ultimately, the aircraft type struck a mountain peak roughly 66 miles northeast of Williams AFB. The wreckage was located two days after the incident, positioned approximately 100 feet from the summit. There were 28 fatalities and no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
The investigation noted a discrepancy between the pilot's reported position and the actual location of the aircraft relative to local landmarks. The crash occurred while the flight was operating in marginal weather conditions near the mountain slope.