What happened
During a preflight briefing with an AFSS specialist, the pilot was informed that the intended route would experience marginal VFR and IFR conditions. Despite this warning regarding deteriorating visibility and weather, no flight plan was filed for the trip.
Radar tracking last positioned the aircraft at an altitude of 2,500 feet MSL, moving toward high-elevation terrain. At the time of the accident, a New York state trooper near the crash site reported heavy snowfall and significantly reduced visibility. The aircraft eventually struck a mountain peak measuring 3,400 feet while flying at an elevation of 2,500 feet.
The wreckage remained undiscovered for four days until it was located by a New York State Police helicopter crew. There were six fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary factor was the pilot's decision to proceed into known adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the pilot failed to maintain an altitude sufficient to ensure clearance from the surrounding terrain.