Departure and Weather Briefing
The aircraft departed Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, on a pleasure flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. On board were two non-instrument rated pilots (the owner/pilot in command and a second pilot) and a passenger. Upon arrival at Great Falls, Montana, both pilots received a weather briefing on the intended route via Pocatello, Idaho. The briefer stated that VFR flight was not recommended and suggested an alternate routing via Wyoming. The owner/pilot in command overrode the second pilot's acceptance of the alternate routing, and the aircraft departed.
Flight and Weather Conditions
As the flight approached Pocatello, one of the pilots radioed that weather conditions were 'closing in' on the flight. A witness in the vicinity of the crash site reported low ceilings and clouds, fog, light snow, and reduced visibilities during the late morning and early afternoon of the accident.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft impacted frozen ground in a steep nose-low attitude without cracking. The engine crankcase broke after the aircraft stalled at low altitude.