Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane departed Detroit-Wayne County Airport in the late afternoon, en route to Saranac Lake-Adirondack Airport in New York. During the descent, at night and in limited visibility due to snowfall, the aircraft struck tree tops at an altitude of 3,100 feet and crashed in a wooded area on Mount Nye, approximately six miles south of Lake Placid.
Search and Wreckage Discovery
After the airplane failed to arrive at its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated but were abandoned several days later when no trace of the aircraft or its three occupants was found. On 29 April 1979, hikers discovered the wreckage about 16 miles southeast of Saranac Lake Airport.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was controlled flight into terrain following improper IFR operation. Contributing factors reported included low ceiling, snow, visibility of one mile or less, and fog.