What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot obtained seven separate weather briefings that indicated marginal Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions along his intended route. At approximately 1730 Central Standard Time, he departed Kansas City on a VFR flight plan bound for Farmington, Missouri. During the en route phase, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions.
At 1911 CST, the pilot transmitted that he was over the Farmington Regional Airport at an altitude of 2800 feet while inside clouds. Two minutes later, he reported regaining visual contact with the ground and requested current weather conditions for Farmington. Since Farmington did not report its own weather, controllers provided information from other locations. The pilot then elected to divert his flight to St. Louis, Missouri.
Radio contact was subsequently lost while air traffic control attempted to provide assistance. A witness heard the aircraft circling near his residence and observed it disappear momentarily into the clouds before emerging in a steep descent. The aircraft crashed onto downward-sloping, wooded terrain. Another witness noted that visibility was poor and misting conditions were present at the time.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the weather data available during the flight. The site was characterized by sloping ground and heavy tree cover, which complicated recovery efforts. Weather reports confirmed marginal VFR conditions existed along the route of flight.