Accident Summary
The airplane struck the side of a mountain, 200 feet below its crest, while in a cruise descent at night after encountering adverse weather conditions. The wreckage was located within a 100-foot radius of the initial impact point. Radar data showed the airplane southbound on a direct heading toward Stellar Airpark, descending from 7,000 feet to 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The radar track depicted the airplane turning east north of Scottsdale airport, continuing the turn until it disappeared from the scope at coordinates corresponding to the crash site. The last radar reported altitude was 3,000 feet, heading 140 degrees, and groundspeed 156 knots. The airspeed indicator was found with its needle impinged at the 160-knot mark.
Weather Conditions
A meteorological study revealed that severe weather, including dust storms and convective activity, was prevalent in the area at the time of the accident. This severe weather was attributed to the region's seasonal monsoon. Dark night lighting conditions also prevailed.
Pilot Actions
The airline transport pilot had not obtained a weather briefing prior to departing for the cross-country flight, and no evidence indicated he received in-flight weather information while en route. According to the pilot's partner, who was also on board, it was common for the pilot to fly below the floor of Class B airspace (4,000 feet msl) while transitioning through the area en route to Stellar Airpark. The partner noted that visual flight rules (VFR) traffic often has difficulty obtaining clearances from controllers due to high workload.