What happened
During a ferry flight traveling from Flagstaff toward Silver City, an aircraft entered an uncontrolled dive while at cruising altitude. The descent led to a crash near Show Low, where the impact resulted in a fire that completely destroyed the plane. There was only one person on board, and the pilot was killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical factors contributing to the loss of control. It was determined that the pilot experienced a sudden physical impairment during the flight, specifically suffering a heart attack at an unknown time. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot's judgment and efficiency were compromised by alcohol consumption, with a recorded blood alcohol level of 2.6‰. Other environmental and operational factors included peak wind gusts of 15 knots and an error in altitude estimation.