Background
The pilot received an extended weather forecast the day prior to departure. The forecast indicated broken to overcast clouds with bases around 8,000 ft for the first part of the trip, and scattered to broken clouds for the last half. Mountain areas were predicted to be obscured. The pilot was encouraged to call in the morning for a detailed update, but no record of any contact was found.
Accident Sequence
No flight plan was filed. The aircraft departed at about 0900 hours on an unknown route toward the destination. The aircraft wreckage was located by an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal and search aircraft at 6,200 ft MSL on a mountainside at the end of a box canyon.
Weather Information
A witness at the bottom of the canyon, at about 4,000 ft MSL, reported visibility of 100 ft in fog and rain at the time of the accident. Weather conditions along the general route of flight were worse than the forecast the pilot received the day prior, with ceilings in the 3,000 ft range and tops to 22,000 ft. The destination airport reported visibility of one-quarter mile in snow at the time of the accident. The weather conditions on the day of the accident were accurately reported in weather information available to the pilot.
Wreckage and Witness
The wreckage was found at the end of a box canyon on a mountainside. The witness at the bottom of the canyon provided the visibility and precipitation details.