The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at approximately 0920 Pacific time while descending. The non-Instrument-rated Private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed at the time of takeoff. No flight plan was filed and the aircraft was not reported overdue until later that evening. Search and rescue operations commenced in an area FAA radar data indicated the airplane had descended below radar coverage. The airplane was located in rugged terrain. The debris path covered about 300 feet on a southerly heading. There was no post-crash fire and no signal emitted from the airplanes ELT; the ELTs antenna was found separated from the components body.
