Accident Details
On November 22 or 23, 1986, a pilot and his daughter departed from his private airstrip. They were reported missing on November 24, 1986, prompting a search. The aircraft was not located until August 19, 1988, when hunters discovered the wreckage approximately 10 miles north of the airstrip.
The accident site was situated on hilly, mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 1,800 feet. Examination revealed that the aircraft was traveling on a northwesterly heading when it struck a tree near the top of a ridge. It then crashed to the ground and came to rest against a tree on the ridge. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the badly burned wreckage and found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure. The weather around the approximate date of the accident was generally VFR. Approximately 9 miles west, at Ukiah, California, there was early morning fog with ceilings of 2,000 to 3,000 feet on November 22, which changed to scattered clouds in the afternoon. On November 23, no cloud layers were reported below 20,000 feet.
Background
The pilot was reported to be despondent over separation from his wife, which occurred two weeks before the accident.