Factual Information
On September 30, 2012, at approximately 04:58 UTC, a Cessna 414, registered in the United States, collided with terrain in the municipality of Ellbögen, Innsbruck Land district, Tyrol, Austria. The accident occurred during daylight conditions (dawn). The aircraft was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.
Injuries to Persons
The pilot and five passengers suffered fatal injuries. Two passengers were seriously injured.
Damage to Aircraft
The Cessna 414 was destroyed.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a valid private pilot license (PPL) but did not possess an instrument rating. The flight was conducted for remuneration, and the aircraft was not operated under an air operator certificate.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 414, a twin-engine piston aircraft built by Cessna Aircraft Company. The registration was US-registered (registration not specified in source).
Meteorological Information
At Innsbruck Airport, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of departure. However, the aircraft encountered dense fog in the Wipptal valley near the accident site.
Accident Sequence
The pilot and seven passengers departed from Innsbruck Airport (LOWI) on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Valencia, Spain. After takeoff from runway 26, the pilot executed a left downwind departure and entered the Wipptal valley toward the Brenner Pass. While flying in the vicinity of Ellbögen, the aircraft entered dense fog and collided with rising terrain.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed no pre-existing technical defects that contributed to the accident. The pilot flew into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) despite lacking an instrument rating. The flight was not conducted under an air operator certificate and was commercial in nature.