What happened
A Piper PA-24-180 collided with level desert terrain. On the evening of the accident, residents of a nearby town reported experiencing severe weather conditions. Prior to the flight, a noninstrument rated certificated private pilot had obtained a 15-minute electronic weather briefing via DUAT services. This briefing included specific precautions regarding turbulence, icing, and mountain obscuration along the intended flight route. At the time, AIRMETs had been issued for turbulence, mountain obscuration, and instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft struck the ground in a nose-level attitude with the left wing down. Investigators recovered paper from the pilot's DUAT weather briefing at the accident site; the document was found on the engine exhaust system, where it had been partially burned and wrinkled from moisture.