What happened
The airplane struck the terrain while traveling at high airspeed. The wreckage was distributed approximately 380 feet from the initial impact point. At the time of the accident, the local weather consisted of broken showers and squalls.
A witness located on a mountain 24 miles northwest of the site reported hearing an aircraft believed to be heading south at the approximate time of the accident. This individual noted that the area was cloud-covered, preventing the top of Clark Canyon from being seen. The witness also described very windy conditions with large clouds passing throughout the day, noting that while visibility was occasionally good, it could become obscured within minutes.
Radar data tracked a target on a southwesterly heading in the vicinity during the timeframe of the accident. This target was operating with a VFR transponder code but provided no altitude encoder response. The final radar contact for this target occurred at 1248:57, approximately 10 miles north of the accident location.
The investigation
During the on-scene investigation, investigators found no pre-crash mechanical discrepancy. The accident site was covered in snow, which obscured surface characteristics such as rocks, vegetation, or other distinguishing features.