THE PLT FILED A COMPANY VFR FLT PLAN & TOOK OFF AT APRX 0930 MDT ON A RETURN FLT TO FARMINGTON, NM. ACCORDING TO A SURVIVING PASSENGER, AFTER DEPARTING BLANDING, THE ACFT ENTERED LOW CLOUDS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT FLEW IN THE CLOUDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL HE FOUND AN OPEN SPOT, THEN DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PLT CONTINUED THE FLT 'GOING BACK & FORTH, UP & DOWN... CANYONS.' HE STATED THE PLT 'STARTED BACK UP IN THE FOG & I THOUGHT HE KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING.' HE REPORTED THAT A FEW MINUTES AFTER ENTERING THE FOG, THE ACFT CRASHED. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AFTER THE ACFT WAS REPORTED OVERDUE. IT WAS FOUND AT APRX 1517 WHERE IT CRASHED & BURNED ON SLEEPING UTE MOUNTAIN AT THE 7800 FT LEVEL. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT WAS CERTIFIED FOR VFR FLT ONLY FOR OPERATIONS UNDER PART 135 OF THE FAR'S.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED..INADVERTENT..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..CLOUDS

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..LOW CEILING

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..RISING

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..FOG

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..RAIN

Index for Jun1983 | Index of months