Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed in rolling terrain, with approximately 6 feet of its left wing missing. The separated wing section was found about 339 feet east of the main wreckage. Examination of the wing revealed evidence that the outboard portion separated in an upward and aft direction, indicative of positive loading during flight.
Pilot and Flight Details
The pilot, who was deceased, had a toxicology report that initially indicated an ethyl alcohol content of 0.38% in a liver tissue fluid sample, later corrected to 0.038%. The pilot received a weather briefing by telephone but did not file a flight plan. The aircraft departed Cheyenne at 1121 and proceeded northwest.
Communications and Weather
At 1146, the pilot contacted Cheyenne Approach Control, stating he was in clouds and requested a vector to Cheyenne. After a brief conversation, the pilot contacted Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with the same message, except that he would now accept vectors to any place out of the weather. As soon as the controller gave a heading, the pilot radioed that he was in trouble, and no further transmissions were received. Radar contact was lost at 1151.
Witness Account
A witness reported that the weather was overcast and stated, "I heard a high pitched whine... and a loud bang."