What happened
The flight departed Colfax at 0800 local time with the destination set as Spokane. The journey proceeded without incident until the crew initiated the final approach to Spokane-Felts Field under conditions of dense fog. Visibility was significantly reduced, prompting the pilot to attempt a visual landing by descending through what appeared to be a gap in the low-lying cloud deck covering the city.
The aircraft struck the terrain near the intersection of Palouse Highway and Regal Street. The impact resulted in the destruction of the airframe. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and successfully evacuated two individuals who sustained serious injuries: a passenger and a mechanic. Tragically, the other four occupants on board did not survive the crash. Hours after the initial rescue efforts, the injured mechanic succumbed to his wounds.
The flight crew consisted of the pilot and two mechanics. The passenger manifest included three additional individuals. In total, five fatalities were recorded in this event, including the late death of the mechanic.