Accident Beechcraft C99 Commuter N205RA,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 323797

Date:	Friday 12 February 1999
Time:	10:30
Type:	Beechcraft C99 Commuter
Owner/operator:	Ameriflight
Registration:	N205RA
MSN:	U-205
Year of manufacture:	1983
Total airframe hrs:	20522 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-36
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	29 km NE of Bishop Airport, CA (BIH) - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Tonopah Airport, NV (TPH/KTPH)
Destination airport:	Bishop Airport, CA (BIH/KBIH)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The flight departed Tonopah at 09:30 for a 73-mile VFR flight to Bishop. The aircraft was not carrying cargo at the time of the accident. The Beech failed to arrive at the destination; search efforts were initiated and the wreckage was subsequently found February 14 on the eastern slopes of White Mountain in the Inyo National Forest at 9,500 feet.
A witnesses observed the aircraft flying between 7,000 and 8,000 feet msl as it entered Trace Plumas Canyon on White Mountain and begin a gradual left turn. The aircraft then disappeared from view. The canyon leads to the accident site. According to the operator, the pilot had successfully bid on a captain position on larger equipment and this was to be his last trip along this route. Several acquaintances of the pilot located at Tonopah reported that he intended to take a camera with him and photograph some scenic locations along this route.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives and his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.".

Accident investigation: