What happened
The flight departed at 20:55 hours, with air traffic control initially reporting that the departure appeared routine. However, observers located near the terminal buildings noted that the aircraft type maintained an unusually flat flight path at approximately 100 feet before being obscured by airport structures. Following takeoff, the aircraft climbed toward a position just short of Inverness and then performed a turn to intercept the 175° radial from the airfield's VOR beacon.
Roughly four minutes into the flight, the aircraft was observed traveling south at an unspecified altitude, though it remained below the primary cloud layer. Shortly thereafter, witnesses reported seeing an orange glow in the vicinity of the crash site. Due to difficulties in pinpointing the exact location during the night, search efforts were delayed by weather conditions. The wreckage was discovered on the morning of 21 November once visibility improved.
The aircraft struck a hillside at an elevation of 1,600 feet amsl, resulting in its disintegration upon impact. While small fires occurred at the site, they remained localized. There was one fatality, involving the pilot who was the only person on board.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the accident. While several different flight profiles were considered, no conclusive evidence was found to determine the specific reason for the impact.