What happened
While operating through El Paso, Texas, within Class C airspace at 6,500 feet MSL, the pilot established radio contact with a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) located in Pecos, Texas. During this communication, the pilot stated he was approximately 20 minutes from the destination and requested that the FBO remain available for his arrival, as he intended to purchase fuel.
The aircraft failed to arrive at the airport as planned. The following morning, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal led search efforts to the wreckage. The debris was located in hilly terrain at an elevation of 5,700 feet, situated 57 miles west of Pecos.
At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing approaching darkness. Satellite imagery from the period indicated some cloud cover was present in the vicinity of the flight path.