LAX84FA065

The acft crashed into a mountain side at some time prior to 0900 on 11/12/83 when the ELT signal was 1st reported, via satellite. Before the flt, the student plt was last seen in bakersfield, CA at about 0100 that morning. A rescue mission was delayed due to prohibitive wx conditions which included high winds & blowing snow. Initial impact occurred with a rock ridge at an elevation of 10,400 ft MSL. There was evidence that the acft impacted while in an upright, wings level attitude & descending at an angle of about 5 deg. No evidence was found of a preimpact malfunction or failure of the acft or eng. A toxicological check of the plt's blood showed amphetamine at 0.6 mg/l & methamphetamine at 1.2 mg/l. between 0100 & 0900 PST, the cloud bases were above 4000 ft, cloud tops above 10,000 ft, moderate turbulence possible below 12,000 ft, freezing level near 8000 ft & light to moderate icing in clouds above the freezing level.