Flight Background
The aircraft had been in the Phoenix area for repairs and installation of avionics. It was on a trip to Anchorage via Seattle. Prior to departing Lake Havasu City, the pilot received a weather briefing but did not file a flight plan.
Weather and Flight Precautions
The weather briefing included flight precautions for moderate turbulence below 16,000 feet, moderate icing in clouds, and mountain obscuration.
Radar Contact and Communication
While transiting the Palmdale area, the pilot requested and received traffic advisory from Edwards approach control. During that time, he also requested and received the Bakersfield weather. At approximately 1007 Pacific Standard Time, radar service was terminated. About one minute later, radar contact was lost as the aircraft was cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level.
Accident
The aircraft subsequently crashed into rising terrain in the Tehachapi Mountains, approximately 15 miles from where radar contact was lost. Impact occurred about 75 feet below the top of a ridge at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.
Investigation
Examination of the crash site revealed evidence that the aircraft crashed in a wings-level attitude. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine was found.