Incident Overview
The pilot, who was not instrument rated, communicated via radio that he was lost in clouds and requested assistance. He began to relay his position and heading, after which no further transmissions were heard. The aircraft was subsequently located at an elevation of 7,200 feet mean sea level (msl) in steep, mountainous terrain that extended upwards to 10,000 feet msl.
Weather Conditions
Pilots flying in the same area reported visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with cloud bases at 5,000 feet msl and cloud tops at 9,000 feet msl. These pilots stated that most of the mountain was clear of clouds and that they were able to navigate around the cloud formations.
Recovery Efforts
Due to the hazardous terrain and inclement weather, recovery of the aircraft and pilot was not possible.