Accident Details
Shortly after takeoff from Palm Springs Airport, the aircraft was climbing by night at an altitude of 9,700 feet when it struck a mountain in the San Gorgonio Wilderness of the San Bernardino Mountains, approximately 22 miles northwest of Palm Springs. The impact occurred at a speed of 325 knots, and the aircraft disintegrated. All four occupants were killed: crew members Donald J. Weier and Jerald Wayne Foley, and passengers Dolly Sinatra and Ann Carbone. Very poor weather conditions prevented rescuers from reaching the crash site until three days later.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from controlled flight into terrain during the climb to cruise altitude. The crew misunderstood air traffic control (ATC) instructions, leading to a deviation from the intended route. Contributing factors included a lack of visibility, high obstructions in the area, the crew's misinterpretation of their IFR clearance and ATC instructions, and ATC's failure to detect the deviation from the assigned route.