What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, a pilot without an instrument rating initiated a flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, toward Elko, Nevada. Prior to departure, the pilot received a shortened weather briefing that warned of potential turbulence, icing, and obscured mountain views. Despite being informed that visual flight rules (VFR) were not advised due to these conditions, the pilot filed and activated a VFR flight plan. The aircraft type departed Las Vegas at 14:14 PDT.
Communication with the aircraft ceased at 15:45 PDT while the plane was approximately 14 miles south of Elko. During this period, witnesses in the vicinity noted the presence of a passing thunderstorm. The wreckage was discovered the following morning near Grindstone Peak, situated roughly 10 miles southwest of Elko Airport, at an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet MSL. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
An investigation of the engine and airframe at the crash site revealed no evidence of mechanical failure. However, toxicological analysis of the pilot's liver tissue identified a concentration of 4.8 mg/kg of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. The presence of diphenhydramine in the pilot's system was noted alongside the known presence of severe weather in the flight path.