What happened
During an approach to Aspen Airport, the flight crew encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by low visibility. As the aircraft descended below the cloud layer, the pilot lost navigational orientation. While attempting a final left-hand turn, the aircraft type struck trees and crashed into a mountain covered in snow, situated northwest of Glenwood Springs. Search teams located the wreckage in a remote area two days after the impact.
The accident resulted in five fatalities and two serious injuries among the occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing environmental and operational factors. The primary cause was the collision with trees and terrain following the pilot's loss of situational awareness. Contributing elements included:
- Poorly planned or improper in-flight decision-making
- Miscalculation of airspeed and available clearance
- Low cloud ceilings and difficult visibility
- Presence of updrafts and downdrafts
- High obstacles in the flight path
- Difficulties navigating snow-covered terrain