20090620047479A

The pilot of the v-tail bonanza N7062N departed Wolf Lake, near Palmer. The planned route of flight was Palmer, gulkana, via the victor airway and then direct to whitehorse when able. The pilot of N7062N is a private pilot, without an instrument rating, and the flight plan was for VFR. The pilot called kenai flight service station for a weather briefing 45 minutes before departure. The route of flight forecasted cloud bases were at 3000 feet and the forecasted cloud tops were 30,000 feet. The forecast included an AIRMET for turbulence and significant winds. During the weather briefing the pilot was briefed that the tahneta pass was marginal. The tahneta pass is east of Palmer in between sheep mountain and eureka. The weather camera at sheep mountain showed good visibility underneath and mountains obscured in clouds. The pilot expressed that he would be following the airway at flight altitudes of 11500 to 13500, and as soon as he could he would be flying direct to whitehorse. A direct route to whitehorse would be through the wrangell mountains which is a large mountain range with many peeks at 14,ooo feet and one higher than 16,000.when asking for the winds aloft forecast, the pilot requested from 9000 feet to 18000 feet for the forecast altitudes. This also shows that the pilot intended to fly in the area of the forecasted cloud cover. When the pilot opened his flight plan with the Palmer flight service station he was advised that there was an AIRMET for mountain obscuration. The pilot confirmed that he did see mountain obscuration ahead of his flight path.15 miles east of Palmer the pilot of N7062N reported to the Palmer flight service station that the tops of the clouds were 7000 feet and the visibility was unlimited. No further reports or contacts were made. Many aircraft and agencies have continued to search for N7062N.