C-FITAQP: 7) TERRAIN COLLISION
THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot elected to takeoff on the repositioning night flight over known hazardous terrain, and during a period of reduced mountain obscuration due to rain and fog in the area. Enroute, the flight likely encounter inadvertent IMC conditions and the pilot lowered the nose in order to attempt to to re acquire visual conditions, whereupon the aircraft struck terrain in a wings level descending attitude.
NTSB
Probable Cause issued 7/16/2026 – 24 months after the accident: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from clouds, resulting in controlled flight into terrain due to mountain obscuration.
THE DTSB
The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft pick one: Night. Terrain. Ice. IMC. In many cases, pick none. This pilot chose to risk flight in 3 of the four, Night, Terrain, and IMC conditions, and flew directly into deadly terrain. Three lives lost due to this pilot attempting this night flight when other options were readily available.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
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