Weather Briefing and Flight Planning
The pilot, who held an instrument rating and a private pilot certificate, received an in-person abbreviated weather briefing from the Albuquerque Flight Service Station (FSS). During this briefing, FSS advised that VFR flight was not recommended due to obscured mountain tops, turbulence, and icing conditions. Additionally, the pilot obtained local weather reports from a friend residing near Taos Municipal Airport via telephone and aircraft radio. The friend reported snow at his home. Despite the advisory, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan and departed Albuquerque for Taos, flying a dark night cross-country route.
Communication During Flight
During the flight, the pilot radioed his friend and stated that the snow had moved in behind him. He reported having the airport in sight but experiencing difficulty maintaining visual contact with the runway lights because he was "in and out of snow showers."
Accident Sequence
The airplane impacted terrain approximately 1.5 miles east of the Taos Municipal Airport. The specific nature of the impact damage is not detailed in the source.
Toxicology Findings
Toxicological tests conducted on the pilot revealed the presence of fluoxetine (also known by the trade name Prozac), a prescription antidepressant medication. The source notes that this medication is not approved for use during flight operations. The source does not specify any causal relationship between the medication and the accident.