Accident Overview
During a night approach to Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered frost on the windshield. This prompted the pilot to focus on the windshield issue, leading to a loss of situational awareness regarding altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck the slope of a mountain located a few miles short of the runway. The impact destroyed the airplane, and all eight occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined that the accident was a controlled collision with ground. The probable cause resulted from multiple factors. The pilot-in-command failed to adhere to approved procedures and directives. Operational supervisory personnel did not provide adequate directives in manual equipment. There were high obstructions in the area. Ice accumulated on the windshield, impairing the pilot's view. Additionally, the pilot either did not use or incorrectly used the windshield anti-icing and de-icing systems. Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain, were present. The pilot did not follow the company's informal go-around procedures, and the company operations manual lacked go-around procedures altogether. Finally, the mountain was obscured from view by ice on the windshield.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is a controlled collision with ground caused by the combination of the following factors: the pilot-in-command failed to follow approved procedures and directives; failure to provide adequate directives in manual equipment on part of the operational supervisory personnel; high obstructions; accumulation of ice on windshield; the pilot-in-command failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment such as windshield anti-icing and de-icing systems; icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain; the pilot did not follow the company informal go-around procedures; there were no go-around procedures in the company operations manual; mountain obscured by ice on windshield.