Departure and Weather Briefings
The private pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, obtained two weather briefings prior to the flight. During the final briefing at 1350 Mountain Standard Time, the pilot was informed that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended.
Flight and Witness Accounts
At 1554 MST, the aircraft departed from Crystal Airport heading west. Several witnesses traveling on a highway reported observing a flashing light from a small airplane flying low and appearing to follow the highway. The witnesses stated that the weather was clear when they first saw the aircraft, but shortly after it went out of view, they encountered blinding sleet snow.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft impacted the ground in an open field after turning right of course. The impact occurred in a right-wing-low, nose-low attitude while on a heading of approximately 015 degrees. The direction to the destination was approximately 270 degrees. The aircraft was found on February 6, 1984.