Departure and Communication
The pilot departed Longmont, Colorado, at approximately 0520 mountain daylight time. At 0617 MDT, the pilot contacted the Denver en route flight advisory service and received weather information. The aircraft's position at that time was not determined. No further radio communications were received from the pilot.
Search and Discovery
A search was initiated when the aircraft did not arrive at its destination. The wreckage was found on September 9, 1983, where it had impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 12,500 feet. The impact occurred on steep, rocky terrain.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had crashed in a right wing low, nose down attitude while at a high rate of speed. No evidence of a preimpact or mechanical malfunction or failure was found.
Weather Conditions
There were no known witnesses to the accident. However, personnel in the vicinity stated that the sky was overcast, cloud bases were at about 10,000 feet, the mountains were obscured, and light drizzle was falling.