Yakima

The flight was operating into the Yakima airport at night during the period the airport operates as non-towered. Some witnesses reported the aircraft initially appeared lower than normal and that it descended and impacted the ground at a steep angle, and some witnesses reported an abrupt entry into the descent. The aircraft crashed 2.2 nautical miles east of the runway threshold, slightly right of the localizer course The pilot was 'cleared for approach' by air traffic control (ATC) and he subsequently initiated an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 27. The last radar position showed the aircraft approximately on the localizer, at glide slope intercept altitude, 9 nautical miles east of the airport. Three minutes after the last radar position, the pilot reported to ATC he had broken out and had the airport in sight, and canceled instrument flight rules (IFR). ATC then terminated service and approved a frequency change.. Ceiling was 1,500 feet overcast with 6 miles visibility in mist, with no significant icing forecast. No evidence of mechanical problems was found; however, much of the aircraft was consumed by an intense post-crash fire.

During arrival for an ILS runway 21R approach, the aircraft encountered icing conditions for about 9-1/2 minutes. As the aircraft was vectored for the approach, the Seattle ARTCC controller used an expanded radar range and did not provide precise positioning of the aircraft to the final approach course. The flight crew attempted to continue on a steep, unstabilized approach for a landing. Recorded radar data showed that the aircraft was well to the right of the ILS course line and well above the glide slope as it passed the outer marker/final approach fix (faf). It did not intercept the localizer course until it was about 1.5 mile inside the faf. Also, it was still well above the ILS glide slope were recorded altitude data was lost when the aircraft was abt 2.5 miles from the airport. The tower had closed, but the controller saw the aircraft in a higher than normal rate of descent in a wings level attitude. Before reaching the runway, the aircraft nosed over and crashed in a steep descent. There was evidence that ice had accumulated on the airframe, including the horizontal stabilizers, which may have resulted in a tail plane stall. All six occupants were killed.

While on an ILS/DME approach to Ketchikan Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain falls, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. In limited visibility, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

While cruising by night under IFR mode with the autopilot system ON, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Yakima. The wreckage was found a day later. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot has been killed.