Flight and Weather Information
A cross-country flight operating under visual flight rules (VFR) was receiving flight following from air traffic control. At 1127, the controller provided the pilot with the 1115 weather observation for the destination airport. The observation reported a few clouds at 2,100 feet above ground level (agl), scattered clouds at 3,000 feet agl, broken clouds at 3,400 feet agl, and visibility of 7 statute miles. Using the destination elevation of 6,445 feet mean sea level (msl), the cloud bases in msl were between 8,545 and 9,845 feet.
Pilot-Controller Communications
At 1129, the pilot advised the controller that he intended to descend from 12,500 to 10,500 feet msl. The controller asked if the pilot was familiar with the high terrain in the area; the pilot responded that he was not. The controller then advised the pilot of instrument flight rules minimum altitudes (MIAs) in the destination area, which ranged from 10,000 to 14,000 feet msl.
Radar and Satellite Data
At 1136, radar data depicted the airplane 40 nautical miles southeast of its destination at 11,500 feet msl, turning left toward the south. A satellite image from 1130 showed a band of clouds near the airplane's turning point, with cloud tops estimated between 12,000 and 12,500 feet msl. At 1139:36, radar data showed the flight approximately 5 nautical miles south of its 1136 position, level at 10,800 feet (2,800 feet agl). The last radar contact was at 1141:31, showing the airplane at 10,800 feet, about 48 nautical miles southeast of the destination.
Terrain Impact
After radar contact was lost, the airplane reversed course and headed northwest toward the destination. The airplane impacted mountainous terrain approximately 16 miles southeast of the destination at an elevation of about 10,400 feet msl. Visible satellite images for 1145, 1200, and 1215 showed scattered to broken clouds just west of the airplane's last radar position, extending northward toward the destination. The clouds became broken to overcast near the accident location. It is likely that the airplane entered clouds shortly before impact.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The private pilot was not instrument rated and had a total of 13 hours of instrument flight time. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.