What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft landed at rock springs, WY (rks) to re-fuel. At approximately 1520 zulu the aircraft departed rock springs, WY (rks) to nampa, id (man). The intended cruise altitude was stated to be 11,500' MSL. The radar information obtained from ATC indicated altitudes ranging from 15,500 shortly after take off from rks to 7,600 just before the accident. The flight path was recorded by USAF radar and this information overlaid on a terrain map. This data indicated that in the last three minutes of flight the aircraft altitude varied from 6900' MSL to 7800' MSL. During the last 2 minutes of flight the aircraft made two 180 degree turns. While making these turns the altitude varied from 7800' to 7400' MSL. Reported weather in the area could be the reason for the sudden course and altitude changes. The last radar return was 7600' MSL at 1832 zulu. The aircraft first contacted the terrain with the right wing tip at 7454' MSL. The aircraft then cart wheeled coming to rest 265' from the initial impact point. A post impact fire consumed most of the fuselage. Both wings separated from the fuselage prior to the fire but the flight control cables were still connected after the crash & post impact fire. Search and rescue reached the crash site at approximately 0645 zulu. The photo's showed that approximately 2" of snow had fallen on the aircraft parts and debris after the crash.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT ROCK SPRINGS, WY (RKS) TO RE-FUEL. AT APPROXIMATELY 1520 ZULU THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ROCK SPRINGS, WY (RKS) TO NAMPA, ID (MAN). THE INTENDED CRUISE ALTITUDE WAS STATED TO BE 11,500' MSL. THE RADAR INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ATC INDICATED ALTITUDES RANGING FROM 15,500 SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM RKS TO 7,600 JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT PATH WAS RECORDED BY USAF RADAR AND THIS INFORMATION OVERLAID ON A TERRAIN MAP. THIS DATA INDICATED THAT IN THE LAST THREE MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE VARIED FROM 6900' MSL TO 7800' MSL. DURING THE LAST 2 MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT MADE TWO 180 DEGREE TURNS. WHILE MAKING THESE TURNS THE ALTITUDE VARIED FROM 7800' TO 7400' MSL. REPORTED WEATHER IN THE AREA COULD BE THE REASON FOR THE SUDDEN COURSE AND ALTITUDE CHANGES. THE LAST RADAR RETURN WAS 7600' MSL AT 1832 ZULU. THE AIRCRAFT FIRST CONTACTED THE TERRAIN WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP AT 7454' MSL. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CART WHEELED COMING TO REST 265' FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. A POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE FUSELAGE. BOTH WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE PRIOR TO THE FIRE BUT THE FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES WERE STILL CONNECTED AFTER THE CRASH & POST IMPACT FIRE. SEARCH AND RESCUE REACHED THE CRASH SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 0645 ZULU. THE PHOTO'S SHOWED THAT APPROXIMATELY 2" OF SNOW HAD FALLEN ON THE AIRCRAFT PARTS AND DEBRIS AFTER THE CRASH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.