Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a cargo aircraft operating under Part 135 on-demand air taxi regulations was destroyed when it struck a 350-foot-high hill. The flight was the only one among several air taxi operators and company aircraft that did not cancel operations. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed.
Weather Conditions
Both ground reports and pilot reports indicated that the weather in the accident area included ceilings below 500 feet and visibility less than one mile. These conditions were widespread and led other operators to cancel their flights.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's decision-making and the environmental conditions. During the cruise phase of flight, the pilot engaged in improper in-flight planning and decision-making, intentionally flew visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and misjudged the weather. Specific weather conditions cited included fog and low ceilings.
Collision Details
Following the encounter with adverse weather, the aircraft entered a maneuvering phase and subsequently collided with terrain. The impact with the 350-foot hill resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.