19990212001309A

Ameriflight cargo/check hauler crashed in mountainous terrain at the 8,500 feet level under unknown circumstances. The pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries. The acft was destroyed. Other circumstances are unknown. On February 12, 1999, about 1000 hours pacific standard time, a Beech C99, N205RA, was destroyed in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain near Bishop, California. The airline trainsport pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight was operated by ameriflight, inc. as a company positioning flight under 14CFR part 91. According to witness observations, visual meteorological conditions prevailed along the route of flight and the vicinity of the accident site. The flight originated at tonopah, Nevada, at 0930 for the 73-mile trip to Bishop, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not carring cargo at the time of the accident. No eyewitnesses to the accident were identified. The aircraft was reported missing on February 12 by the operator when it failed to arrive at Bishop as scheduled. 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. The GPS coordinates of the accident site were 39 degrees 34.264 minutes north latitude by 118 degrees 09.141 minutes west longitude. Several ground-based witnesses (one of who is a pilot) were identified along route of flight in dyer flyer, on the east side of white mountain. The 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 captian position on larger equipment and this was to be his last trip along this route. Several aquaintances of the pilot located at tonopah reported that he intended to take a camera with him and photograph some scenic locations along this route. (.4)the airline transport pilot was repositioning the Beech C99 turboprop cargo hauler on a 73-mile trip without cargo. The pilot had been flying this route for some time and this was his last trip before upgrading to a larger aircraft and route. He told friends that he would take pictures of the scenic parts of the route on his last trip. Three witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying west at low altitude. Two of the witnesses were local ranchers who saw the airplane enter the white mountains near trace plumas canyon about 7,000 to 8,000 feet MSL. White mountain is 14,246 feet, tapering off north to 13,559 feet and south to 11,285 feet MSL. The airplane was reported missing and 2 days later located on white mountain about 9,400 feet MSL. The company flight planned route is 15 miles south of the accident site through westgard pass, about 7,291 feet MSL. Examination of the low energy impact and the subsequent recovery inspection failed to reveal any mechanical issues.