Incident Overview
According to the investigation source, the pilot was briefed on a SIGMET forecasting occasional severe rime or mixed icing from the freezing level at 8,000 feet up through 20,000 feet, as well as moderate to severe turbulence below 18,000 feet. Embedded thunderstorms, lightning, and thunder were also forecasted. The pilot indicated to the briefer that he would "probably not go," but took off approximately 14 minutes later without filing a flight plan.
The last radar contact with the aircraft was approximately 33 miles south-southeast of Farmington, New Mexico, in the vicinity of the crash site. The aircraft impacted the terrain at high speed while in a steep nose-down, right-wing-down attitude at an elevation of about 6,500 feet.
Weather Conditions
At 0850 MST, the weather at Farmington (elevation 5,503 feet) was reported as 500 feet broken clouds, 10,000 feet overcast, visibility 5 miles with light rain, snow, and fog. Wind was from 250 degrees at 10 knots.
Flight History
The aircraft was observed on radar changing altitude and heading abruptly before contact was lost. No flight plan had been filed for the flight.
Pilot Information
The pilot had not logged any instrument flight time for approximately three years prior to the accident.