Overview
A night flight under marginal weather conditions ended in tragedy when the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The airplane crashed on top of a hill, resulting in its destruction and the deaths of all six occupants.
Incident Details
The flight was conducted at night. The pilot was cruising when control was lost. Witnesses reported hearing the aircraft circling at low altitude prior to the crash. The airplane struck the summit of a hill, causing catastrophic damage.
Weather Conditions
Marginal weather prevailed at the time. The conditions included icing (sleet and freezing rain), turbulence associated with clouds and thunderstorms, and snow. These factors likely complicated the flight.
Contributing Factors
The official probable cause was loss of control for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors identified were: icing conditions (sleet, freezing rain), turbulence from clouds and thunderstorms, snow, and the aircraft circling at low altitude as heard by witnesses.
Outcome
The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants on board died. The investigation closed with the cause listed as undetermined loss of control, with the noted contributing factors.