Incident Overview
The pilot of a general aviation aircraft reported to air traffic control (ATC) that he intended to make an unscheduled fuel stop. ATC advised that Cedar City Airport was approximately 15 minutes away. The pilot requested and received radar vectors to the airport.
Approach and Collision
Despite dark night conditions, the pilot did not activate the pilot-controlled airport lighting. He reported the airport in sight and was cleared for a visual approach. Three minutes later, radar contact was lost.
The aircraft impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 9,100 feet, about six miles east of the airport, which has an elevation of 5,622 feet. The minimum safe altitude in the area was 12,400 feet. All four occupants were killed.