Flagstaff-Pulliam

A witness located near the departure end of the runway saw the airplane initially climb in a normal manner, then stay below the clouds and make a shallow bank 180-degree left turn and descend below a tree line. Tower tapes revealed that the pilot twice transmitted that he was "coming back" to the airport during which the background sound of the "fuel selector off" warning horn was heard. The pilot then informed the controller "I've got to get back", and no warning horn was heard. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest about 6,500 feet sse of the runway's end. Prior to departure, the airplane was refueled with 40 gals of jet a (20 gals per tank), which increased the total fuel load to 148 gals. The flight manual required that the fuel balance between the left and right tanks be kept within 200 pounds, and suggested turning off one fuel selector to correct unbalance situations. The condition of one fuel selector turned off will cause the "fuel selector off" warning horn to sound. Exam of the aircraft revealed no evidence of preimpact failures. Prop blade butt signatures indicated it was operating in the governing range, and engine power was being produced at impact.

The aircraft was on a night flight from Phoenix to Flagstaff, AZ, to deliver cargo in accordance with an air taxi delivery schedule. Before reaching Flagstaff, the pilot canceled his IFR clearance and proceeded VFR. He encountered lowering cigs and rw. During the approach, he extended the landing gear and partially extended the wing flaps. Subsequently, the aircraft hit trees and crashed in an unpopulated area about 2.5 miles south-southeast of the airport at an elevation of about 6,800 feet; airport elevation was 7,011 feet. Initial impact occurred while the aircraft was in a right 20° bank (toward runway 03). Weather data at the company dispatch was not current and did not depict the adverse local conditions near the destination airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.