Accident Overview
A rented airplane was being operated for an early evening flight in the area of the Colorado River and Mohave Desert. The wreckage was subsequently located in the Mohave Desert, where it had impacted mountainous terrain at the 2,100-foot level of a 2,695-foot mountain. The surrounding terrain was described as relatively level.
Flight and Wreckage
The airplane was in level cruise flight at the time of impact. The magnetic heading of the aircraft during impact was recorded as 280 degrees. The setting sun was positioned 6.0 degrees above the horizon on a magnetic bearing of 280.9 degrees, placing the sun directly in front of the aircraft's flight path.
Impact Details
The mountain, which rises to 2,695 feet, stands distinctly above the relatively level desert floor. The point of impact on the mountainside was at an elevation of 2,100 feet, indicating a collision with the slope below the summit. The wreckage was found in the immediate vicinity of the impact site.