Accident Details
An instrument-rated private pilot was conducting a refueling stop at Amarillo, Texas, before departing on an IFR flight plan to Guthrie, Oklahoma. The pilot received a weather briefing and subsequently took off at night in an airplane equipped with an autopilot. The flight climbed to 7,000 feet above mean sea level (msl). Approximately four minutes after leveling off, Albuquerque Center lost both radar and radio contact with the aircraft.
Witness Accounts and Crash Site
Several witnesses reported hearing the sound of the crash or observing a postimpact fire, but no known witnesses saw the airplane before impact. Examination of the crash site indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a steep descent.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the airframe and engine and found no anomalies that would have contributed to the loss of control. A pathological examination of the pilot revealed no preexisting medical condition that could have played a role in the accident. The cause of the loss of control remains undetermined based on the available evidence.