Incident Overview
An aircraft originally destined for Scottsdale Airport diverted to a flight course toward Sedona due to thunderstorms and high winds at Scottsdale. After a radio conversation with Scottsdale tower, the pilot decided to reroute and land at Scottsdale instead.
Communication and Approach
The pilot did not read back the weather correctly to Scottsdale tower. After descending in rain and turbulence, the pilot reported to Scottsdale at 1857 that "we think we have the airport at nine o'clock." The pilot was cleared to make a visual approach to Runway 21. The tower never established visual contact with the aircraft and was unable to make further radio contact.
Final Radar Contact and Crash
The last recorded radar contact showed the aircraft at 2,200 feet descending, 2 miles from Scottsdale on a bearing of 075 degrees. The aircraft contacted the ground left wing and nose low in a landing configuration on a heading of about 300 degrees. The aircraft slid about 770 feet, losing the engines, wings, and landing gear before stopping.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the wreckage showed no signs of pre-impact conditions that would have affected normal operations.
Probable Cause
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather. Phase of operation: descent - normal. Findings: (1) weather evaluation - inaccurate - pilot in command; (2) wind information - misread - pilot in command; (3) flight into known adverse weather - continued - pilot in command; (4) weather condition - thunderstorm; (5) weather condition - turbulence (thunderstorms); (6) weather condition - rain. Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water. Phase of operation: approach. Findings: (7) light condition - dark night; (8) proper altitude - not maintained - pilot in command; (9) visual/aural detection - pilot in command.