What happened
On November 17, 2012, a Cessna 182D, registration N61LN, crashed into mountainous terrain south of Bondurant, Wyoming. The flight originated from Stevensville, Montana, at approximately 11:30, with the pilot intending to fly to Pinedale, Wyoming.
After the pilot failed to arrive at his destination, his family alerted the FAA, which subsequently issued an Alert Notification. Search and rescue operations involving the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force, and local law enforcement continued until the wreckage was discovered by aerial units on November 24, 2012. The aircraft impacted trees and terrain at an elevation of approximately 10,030 feet MSL, roughly 35 miles west of the intended destination.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the debris path was approximately 133 feet long. The aircraft's wings had separated from the fuselage, and the engine was found submerged in snow. A post-accident examination of the airframe and the Continental O-470-50 engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
Data recovered from a handheld GPS unit showed the flight's altitude varied between 8,000 and 12,300 feet throughout the flight, with a final recorded climb to 13,450 feet near Freedom, Wyoming. Radar data indicated the aircraft departed Stevensville on a south-southeasterly course before turning to an easterly heading.
Meteorological analysis showed that while visual conditions were present in some areas, AIRMET advisories for mountain obscuration and moderate icing were in effect for the region. Satellite imagery indicated clouds with tops of approximately 16,700 feet were present in the accident area.