What happened
The flight was en route from Fort Worth, Texas, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, when the pilot decided to divert to Albuquerque. The aircraft crashed while being vectored for an instrument landing system approach to runway 8 at Albuquerque International Sunport.
The investigation
Examination of the pilot's credentials revealed that he had received his instrument rating slightly more than six months before the accident. During that time, he had logged 24.1 hours of actual instrument flight time but had completed only one instrument approach since receiving his rating. Prior to the accident, the pilot had been flying for more than three hours on instruments.
Findings
The pilot's limited recent experience with instrument approaches and extended duration in instrument meteorological conditions were significant factors in the event.