What happened
While cruising at 28,000 feet, the pilot of the aircraft failed to acknowledge a frequency change assignment from air traffic control. Approximately 25 minutes later, while positioned 30 miles east of the intended destination, the pilot established contact with controllers using an unassigned frequency. During this exchange, the pilot requested an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. Air traffic control directed the pilot to descend to 8,000 feet and provided vectors for the approach.
Although the pilot initially confirmed that all was well, the aircraft began a descent shortly thereafter. Two minutes later, the controller attempted to verify the flight's destination, but the pilot's response was unintelligible. Controllers issued commands to halt the descent at 10,000 feet and subsequently ordered the pilot to stop descending at any altitude. The pilot did not acknowledge these instructions, and all further attempts to establish communication failed.
The aircraft eventually struck terrain in a dense forest approximately 17 miles from the destination airport. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in two fatalities.