What happened
The flight originated in Helena, Montana, with the intended destination being Taos, New Mexico. En route, the aircraft made a stop at Ogden, Utah, where it was refueled with 47.5 gallons of fuel. The last known radio communication occurred at 1735 Mountain Standard Time on November 2, 1982. At that time, the pilot reported the aircraft's position as 17 miles west of Durango, Colorado, while cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet. Following this transmission, no further contact was established with the aircraft.
Findings
The absence of any subsequent radio contact or physical evidence led to the presumption that fatal injuries occurred during the incident. The specific mechanical or environmental factors contributing to the loss of contact were not detailed in the available source material.