Accident Overview
A non-instrument rated pilot landed at Falcon, Colorado, and refueled. The pilot then took off, and a witness described the weather conditions as marginal. Three days later, the aircraft was reported missing, and search efforts were conducted but proved unsuccessful. The wreckage was eventually found approximately two and a half years after the accident.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft crashed while traveling at a high rate of speed. With the exception of debris located adjacent to the wreckage, there were no ground scars or evidence of lateral movement at the accident site.
Meteorological Context
Satellite photographs taken on the day of the accident revealed cloud cover at both the departure point (Falcon, Colorado) and at the accident site. Radar summary charts for the area showed a band of thunderstorms (levels 1, 3, and 5) across much of central and southeastern Colorado. Convective SIGMETs were in effect, and an AIRMET warned of instrument meteorological conditions, mountain obscuration, and icing.
Pilot Actions
There is no record that the pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to the flight.