Original Message

Yes, it is HIGHLY likely that he hit the trees on the top of the mountain which is 5256' right where it occurred. Last pinged altitude on flightradar24 was 5250'. He was cruising at 4800'. Right before the incident there was a rapid increase in altitude and A/S went from 126 down to 70 and then of course lower. Sounds like a cyclic climb doesn't it? 

So, in my opinion it was CFIT. Only he hit trees not terrain, otherwise they would have been dead for sure.