March 02, Monterey, Mass. / Piper Cherokee Six

At about 1854 eastern time, a Piper PA-32-300 crashed into terrain during cruise flight in Monterey. The pilot and three passengers were killed and three other passengers suffered serious injuries. The flight was bound IFR for Keene, N.H., when the pilot stated he did not like the weather near his destination. He canceled his IFR flight plan and requested VFR advisories to Westfield. About 10 minutes later, the airplanes radar track turned about 90 degrees to the left, apparently toward Great Barrington Airport. The airplane struck trees and terrain on the south-southeast side of Mt. Wilcox, approximately 7.5 miles east-northeast of GBR, at about 1,900 feet msl.