Oneonta

The pilot filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan from the departure airport with an estimated time en route of 2 hours 47 minutes and a cruising altitude of 12,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The flight planning application the pilot used to file the flight plan provided weather briefing information, which included a convective SIGMET active for the time and route of flight and pilot weather reports (PIREPs) for turbulence and moderate chop; however, it could not be determined whether the pilot reviewed this information. The flight departed about 45 minutes after the pilot’s filed departure time. Flight track data and air traffic control communications showed that, about 1 minute after departing, the pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) to obtain an IFR clearance. The controller cleared the pilot to his destination as filed, issued a climb to 10,000 ft msl, and provided a weather advisory for moderate and heavy precipitation along the route, which the pilot acknowledged. About 4 minutes later, the controller issued the pilot a climb to 12,000 ft msl, which the pilot acknowledged. About that time, the controller began a position relief briefing with a relieving controller, which took about 2 minutes. About 2 minutes later, the new controller queried the pilot after observing that the flight had deviated left of course. The flight track data showed that, just before the query from the controller, the airplane deviated from its southwesterly ground track and began a 45-second, right 270° turn starting at an altitude of 9,800 ft msl. While in the turn, the airplane descended to an altitude of 8,700 ft msl before climbing back to an altitude of 9,800 ft msl when the airplane rolled out on an easterly ground track. About 1 minute after the query from the controller, the pilot responded, stating he had “lost” something, followed by a similar transmission 27 seconds later. This was the last transmission heard that could be attributed to the accident airplane. The airplane continued on a wavering east track for about 40 seconds, descending back down to 8,700 ft msl before climbing to 9,025 ft msl, after which the airplane entered a tight, right, descending spiral until track data was lost. The airplane crashed in a dense wooded area located in Trout Creek and was totally destroyed. All five occupants were killed.

The aircraft crashed in a wooded area after the loss of engine power. The weather was VMC. The pilot made a missed approach after trying to land on runway at Oneonta, at 1838 hrs. Later the pilot radioed that he was unable to 'pick up' the Kring beacon. Boston center vectored the flight to the area of the Kring beacon. The pilot then proceeded to question his position. When boston terminated radar service the pilots answer was unintelligible. No further communications were received from the flight. The wreckage was found about 1/2 mile from the airport. The left full tank selector was found on the left outboard tank. This aircraft is restricted to level flight for use of fuel from the outboard tanks. All five occupants were killed.

At approximately 2330 est, witnesses near the crash site heard an aircraft, and shortly thereafter, they saw a flash. One of them, who was driving a car, went back to the area the next day and found the aircraft wreckage. The aircraft had crashed and burned about one mile from the approach end of runway 24. Wreckage was strewn along an area of about 250 feet long and was oriented on a heading of 230°. The aircraft was descending in an estimate 40° dive when it hit the ground. An exam of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of a malfunction. About 3,500 lbs of marijuana was found in the wreckage. The 2010 weather at the airport was: indefinite 500 feet obscuration, visibility 1 1/4 mile with rain and light fog, temperature 33°, wind from 280° at 5 knots. Another pilot had landed at 2015. He said his aircraft had accumulated a trace of rime ice. At the time of the accident, witnesses said the roads were lightly covered with ice snow. Both occupants were killed.