On March 22, 1991, a Cessna 182F (registration N3458U) operated by Arizona Air Enteprizes was involved in an aviation accident near Young, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A cross-country flight over mountainous terrain was reported overdue and discovered three weeks later. The airplane impacted snow-covered terrain at high speed in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude. Icing and turbulence were reported in the area.
Flight Details
The accident involved a cross-country flight conducted over mountainous terrain. The pilot had filed for a visual flight rules (VFR) departure and destination, although instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were forecast along the route of flight.
Weather Conditions
At the departure and destination airports, weather conditions were reported as VFR. However, along the route, IMC were forecast. Witnesses in the area of the accident reported a snow storm. Weather conditions in that area were reported to include icing and turbulence, with mountains obscured by clouds.
Discovery and Wreckage
The airplane was reported overdue and was located three weeks later. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had impacted snow-covered terrain at high speed, in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude.