Accident Details
The approach to Winnemucca was conducted at night and in poor weather conditions. While on final approach, the airplane struck the ground at an elevation below the airport's elevation, resulting in a crash. The pilot and one passenger were killed, and a second passenger sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation.
Contributing Factors
The investigation reported several contributing factors: rain, snow, turbulence associated with clouds and thunderstorms, obstructions to vision, and weather conditions that were slightly worse than forecast.