Flight Planning
On the day of the accident, a passenger had a 10:00 medical appointment at the destination airport. The pilot, a recently certificated private pilot without an instrument rating, requested and received a weather briefing for a proposed visual flight rules (VFR) flight at 7,500 feet MSL from Mesa to Holbrook, Arizona. The weather briefing was considered adequate for the flight.
Weather Encounter
During the flight, the pilot encountered a localized severe weather phenomenon. This included cumulus buildups, clouds extending down to the ground, rain, and gusty surface winds. The conditions were not anticipated from the briefing.
Accident Sequence
Witnesses at the accident site reported hearing the aircraft and the sound of impact, but could not locate the wreckage until the clouds lifted. The aircraft struck the side of a cliff-like mountain feature at an elevation of 7,360 feet MSL. The impact occurred at a descent angle of 31 degrees and a right roll of 118 degrees.