What happened
Shortly after departing from Denver for a scheduled flight to Kansas City, a twin engine aircraft struck the side of a mountain approximately 8 miles northwest of Golden. The impact occurred during the initial climb phase of the flight. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and caused the deaths of all 11 occupants on board.
Findings
Investigation into the flight path revealed that instead of maintaining an eastbound course toward Kansas City, the crew was operating the aircraft toward the west, directly into the terrain of the Rocky Mountains. The specific reason for this deviation from the intended route remains undetermined.