LAX97LA303

The noninstrument-rated pilot departed before daylight in mountainous terrain under an overcast sky. The pilot did not file a flight plan nor obtain a formal weather briefing. When he failed to arrive at his destination a search was initiated. The aircraft was located 9 months later, about 4.5 miles south of the departure point in mountainous terrain. According to a sheriff's investigator, the engine was buried below the ground surface and the airplane was very fragmented.

On November 14, 1996, about 0505 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Fleming Glassair III, N77DF, was destroyed after colliding with terrain near Dunsmuir, California. The pilot received fatal injuries. While the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident are unknown, patchy early morning fog was forecast for the general area. The pilot did not file a flight plan for the personal cross-country flight. According to the resident Dunsmuir-Mott airport manager, the flight originated at Dunsmuir-Mott Airport about 0500 on the morning of the accident and was destined for Palm Springs, California.

When the aircraft failed to arrive at Palm Springs, a ground and air search was initiated with negative results. On August 25, 1997, the aircraft wreckage was located at latitude 41 degrees 12 minutes 14 seconds north, and longitude 122 degrees 14 minutes 20 seconds west in mountainous terrain about 3,500 feet msl and 4.5 miles south of the Dunsmuir-Mott Airport. According to a sheriff's investigator, the engine was buried below the surface of the ground and the airplane was fragmented into many pieces.

The pilot had been issued a private pilot certificate on June 8, 1995. The pilot's flight logbook was recovered at the accident site. According to the readable portions of the logbook, at the last documented log entry dated November 11, 1996, he had about 339 flight hours.

The nearest weather reporting facility for the accident site was Mount Shasta. An automated weather observation recorded at 0456 was: wind variable at 4 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky overcast at 4,400 feet agl; temperature 33 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit; and the altimeter was 30.10 inHg.