Incident Overview
A pilot received numerous weather briefings that advised against conducting visual flight along the proposed route over mountainous terrain. Despite these recommendations, the pilot filed a flight plan under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and took off into the night.
Search and Wreckage Location
When the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, a search was initiated. Approximately 11 hours after takeoff, the wreckage was located on a mountain at the 3,300-foot level. The site was about 15 miles from the airport of departure.
Weather Briefing Details
The weather briefings explicitly recommended that visual flight not be conducted along the proposed flight route due to the mountainous terrain and likely associated weather conditions. The pilot's decision to proceed under VFR into night conditions contradicted these advisories.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot proceeded with a VFR flight into an area where visual flight was repeatedly advised against. The aircraft's impact with mountainous terrain at night, following a VFR flight plan, is documented. No further causal factors were specified in the official source.