Incident Overview
A non-instrument rated private pilot was operating a cross-country flight without obtaining a weather briefing or filing a flight plan. Forecasts along the route included a snow advisory and an AIRMET for low ceilings and snow. No radio communications with the pilot were known.
Radar and Flight Path
Radar data identified a VFR target near the accident location. The target descended from 14,900 feet mean sea level (msl) to 9,800 feet, then reversed course and squawked the emergency code 7700 before disappearing from radar.
Accident Sequence
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain at an elevation of 8,540 feet. Examination of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude.
Investigation Notes
The investigation noted the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, failure to obtain a weather briefing, and failure to file a flight plan. The presence of adverse weather along the route was documented. No probable cause was determined from the available information.