What happened
While operating under visual flight rules (VFR) toward the Hailey airport, the pilot established contact with the control tower at 12:47, reporting a position approximately 10 miles to the south. Throughout the subsequent seven minutes of communication with air traffic control, the pilot was unable to visually identify the airport.
Observers located north of the airfield witnessed the aircraft type flying northbound alongside a highway. The aircraft was traveling at a low altitude, estimated at roughly 400 feet above the ground, while moving into ascending mountainous terrain. Witnesses noted that the landing gear was deployed and the engines were producing power. The flight was described as slow-moving, and the aircraft was seen banking left before entering a sharp descent. The aircraft ultimately struck the ground in a steep, nose-down orientation.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that there were no indications of issues regarding the engines or flight control systems. Environmental factors at the crash site included high density altitude conditions. Additionally, toxicological analysis of the deceased identified the presence of Chlorpheniramine, an over-the-counter antihistamine, in the kidney and heart tissues.