Incident Overview
A student pilot contacted the flight service station (FSS) for a weather briefing and then filed a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan with a proposed takeoff time of 1200 and an en route flight time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The FSS reported that the student pilot never activated the flight plan.
Radar Tracking
Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) radar acquired the airplane as a primary target over Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utah border. The aircraft was tracked on a straight-line flight path toward Provo. Approaching the Boulder Mountains, the airplane turned west toward high terrain. Radar data showed the airplane making three consecutive 360-degree left turns within a half-mile area before radar contact was lost.
Search and Recovery
Concerned family members began searching for the student pilot and passenger when the airplane did not arrive at its destination. The airplane was located by a search and rescue unit the following day. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
Weather Conditions
Approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident, the weather reporting station at Bryce Canyon, Utah (BCE), 41 miles southwest of the accident site, reported scattered clouds at 3,600 feet; a ceiling of 4,600 feet overcast; 10 miles visibility; light rain; temperature 46 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 39 degrees Fahrenheit; and altimeter setting 30.13. A witness described the weather in the area as overcast skies and cool temperatures throughout the day, with low clouds and what appeared to be precipitation over the accident site.
Pilot Information
Pilot records showed the student pilot was approved for solo cross-country flight and had accumulated 44.6 total flying hours. There was no record of instrument training; however, the student pilot's instructor stated that the student had received instruction for flight with reference to instruments.
Toxicology Results
FAA toxicology testing revealed the presence of Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine, Phenylpropanolamine, and Pseudoephedrine in urine and liver samples. Dextrophan and Ephedrine were also detected in urine.