What happened
During a night departure, an aircraft struck a mountain approximately five miles from the airport. Radar tracking data indicated that the aircraft initially utilized a secondary beacon code from its previous inbound arrival while positioned on the runway. As the flight progressed, the aircraft climbed through various altitudes, with ground speed increasing from 120 knots to an average of 180 knots. The flight path followed a northeasterly heading, shifting from 035 degrees to 055 degrees during the climb.
At 2022:53, the final radar return recorded an altitude of 3,500 feet. The wreckage was located at an elevation of 3,710 feet, just 0.1 miles from this final tracked position. Local witnesses near the base of the mountain observed the aircraft's lights and heard the engine before witnessing a large fireball at the moment of impact. Witnesses also noted that the aircraft appeared to be initiating a right turn just before the collision.
Findings
An investigation of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or pre-impact malfunctions. Radar analysis showed that the pilot transitioned the transponder code from the assigned IFR code to a VFR code approximately 30 seconds prior to the crash. This change in transponder settings is identified as a potential source of distraction during the critical phase of flight.