Incident
A pilot departed Bassett, Nebraska, at approximately 1930 central standard time, en route to Valentine, Nebraska, a distance of about 60 miles. The weather at departure was described as misty with light rain.
Search Efforts
At approximately 2100, the airport manager in Valentine received a telephone call from the pilot's sister, inquiring about the pilot's whereabouts. The airport manager contacted the fixed base operator in Bassett. Subsequently, the sister reported the pilot missing to the Cherry County Sheriff's Department. The Nebraska Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) initiated an aerial search for the aircraft at 2240. The search was terminated 30 minutes later because the CAP pilot began to encounter ice accumulation on the airplane while flying at 1,000 feet above ground level. The aerial search resumed the following morning. The wreckage was located at approximately 0830.
Weather Conditions
Weather observations taken at Ainsworth, Nebraska, at 1952 reported an overcast ceiling of 3,400 feet and visibility of 10 miles. The sheriff, who participated in the ground search on the night of the accident, described the weather as a mixture of freezing drizzle, rain, and snow, with low clouds and low ceilings. When the sheriff arrived at the accident site the next day, he noted ice on the surface of one of the aircraft's wings.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies.