What happened
On the day of the accident, an aircraft departed Geiger Field in Spokane at 12:04 under Instrument Flight Rules. The flight was scheduled to cruise at 6,000 feet MSL en route to Wenatche and carried a crew, seven passengers, and 800 gallons of fuel. At the time of departure, the total weight of the aircraft was 33,822 pounds, which was within the maximum allowable limit of 37,780 pounds, and the center of gravity was within prescribed limits.
By 12:07, the flight had reached its cruising altitude. After receiving weather updates for Wenatchee that were below flying minima, the crew requested a diversion to Yakima. Shortly after this request, at approximately 12:13, the aircraft transmitted an emergency message consisting of three short sentences. The messages included statements such as "We are in trouble" and "Going down fast," though the middle sentence was interpreted differently by various radio operators. No prior difficulties had been reported during the flight.
At roughly 12:14, the aircraft crashed on the Pundy farm, located about three miles west of Reardan, Washington, approximately 20 miles from Geiger Field. The impact was followed by a flash fire that burned through the wreckage area. All eight fatalities occurred during the crash. At the time of the accident, visibility was restricted to one-third mile due to light snow, and the ceiling was approximately 200 feet.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that weather conditions, including icing or turbulence, were not contributing factors. The flight had proceeded without incident until the final minute of the flight. Examination of the wreckage showed no evidence of structural failure or an in-flight fire. The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by a sudden loss of control for reasons unknown, which led to the rapid descent and impact.