What happened
The pilot departed from an airport in Pueblo, Colorado, on a visual flight rules flight. The destination was not specified, but the flight path led toward an approaching frontal weather system. Radar data indicates that the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 18,200 feet mean sea level. During this climb, the aircraft exhibited erratic maneuvering in the vicinity of the eventual accident site.
The wreckage was located at an elevation of 13,200 feet in mountainous terrain. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured in the crash. The aircraft was not equipped with supplemental oxygen, which is a critical safety requirement for unpressurized flights at high altitudes.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to this accident was the operation of an unpressurized aircraft at high altitude without supplemental oxygen. The pilot's decision to fly into an approaching frontal weather system, combined with the lack of necessary life-support equipment, led to the fatal outcome. The erratic maneuvering observed on radar may have been a result of spatial disorientation or hypoxia due to the high altitude.
Safety message
Pilots operating unpressurized aircraft above 10,000 feet mean sea level during daytime hours, and above 5,000 feet mean sea level at night, must use supplemental oxygen. Additionally, pilots should avoid flying into known weather systems without proper planning and equipment.