What happened
Operating under 14 CFR Part 135 regulations, a cargo flight was conducting a scheduled domestic delivery en route to Salt Lake City, Utah. During the initial climb phase of the flight, the aircraft maintained regular communication with Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and was being tracked via radar flight following.
While positioned roughly 8 miles west of Fort Collins, the aircraft suddenly vanished from radar surveillance. At this same moment, all radio contact with the pilot ceased. No further information regarding the aircraft's position or status was received following the loss of signal.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified several environmental factors present at the time of the disappearance. The flight was operating during dark night conditions and encountered turbulence. While the aircraft experienced an in-flight collision with terrain and a subsequent loss of control, the specific reason for the occurrence remains undetermined.