SEA06FA036

The non-instrument rated commercial pilot was making a cross-country flight in the airplane over mountainous terrain. During a pre-flight weather briefing and during two in-flight weather updates, the pilot was advised by flight service station weather briefers that VFR flight was not recommended along his route of flight. The flight was receiving VFR flight following services, and the air traffic controllers working the flight also twice advised the pilot of deteriorating weather conditions ahead along his route of flight. The pilot responded that if necessary, he would turn around. Radar and radio contact with the airplane were subsequently lost due to the mountainous terrain. Two witnesses located at different points along the intended route of flight observed the airplane flying southbound at an altitude of about 300 feet agl. The first witness, located about 16 miles north of the accident site, reported that the ceiling was about 500 feet, and there was light snow and sleet falling. The second witness, located about 4 miles north of the accident site, reported that "it was snowing hard and there was little visibility." According to local law enforcement personnel, at the time of the accident, the weather conditions in the vicinity of the accident site were "extreme" with visibility "less than 500 feet with heavy snow." Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude heading northbound, suggesting that the pilot may have been executing a 180 degree turn in an attempt to exit the weather conditions when the impact occurred. Inspection of the engine did not reveal any abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation and production of rated horsepower. Damage to the propeller was consistent with the engine producing power at impact.

History of flight

On January 2, 2006, about 1230 mountain standard time, a Beech 35-A33, N1254Z, impacted terrain while maneuvering about 10 nautical miles north of Heber City, Utah. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed Billings, Montana, about 0910 with an intended destination of Spanish Fork, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the departure from Billings, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site.

According to information provided by Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), the flight was receiving VFR flight following services. About 1119, the controller working the flight advised the pilot that there was a storm system in the Salt Lake valley and to the south. The pilot acknowledged receiving the information. About 1138, the pilot was again advised of deteriorating weather conditions along his route of flight. Again, the pilot acknowledged receiving the information. About 1151, the pilot reported that he was over Evanston, Wyoming, at 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl), following I-80 south, and that if needed, he would turn around and land at Fort Bridger, Wyoming. About 1209, relaying through another aircraft, the pilot was informed that radar contact was lost. About 1214, again relaying through another aircraft, the pilot reported that he planned to go through "either Heber City or Provo canyon." About 1217, another relay was attempted to inform the pilot about level 2 and 3 precipitation in those canyons, and no reply was received. Several other attempts were made to relay without success. Further attempts were made to contact the airplane, and no reply was received.

Radar data provided by Salt Lake City ARTCC indicated that radar contact with the airplane was lost about 1206. The last minute of continuous recorded radar data shows the airplane proceeding southbound along I-80 near the town of Wahsatch, Utah, located about 37 nautical miles north-northeast of the accident site. Between 1204:45 and 1205:45, the airplane traveled a distance of 2.6 miles, consistent with a ground speed of approximately 135 knots, and descended from 7,300 to 7,100 feet msl. (The elevation of Wahsatch is 6,742 feet.)

A witness, who was a private pilot, reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that about 1215, he observed a single-engine, retractable gear airplane flying south along I-80 through the town of Coalville, Utah, located about 16 nautical miles north of the accident site. The witness stated the ceiling was about 500 feet, and there was light snow and sleet falling. He estimated the airplane was about 300 feet above ground level (agl), "going fairly slow," about 100 to 120 mph. He later saw pictures of the accident airplane and realized it was the same airplane he had seen.

A witness reported to the Summit County Sheriff's Office that at 1226, she was near mile marker 2 on State Road 40, located about 4 nautical miles north of the accident site, and observed a "white plane with what she thought were red letters" flying overhead. (The accident airplane was painted white with blue and red trim.) According to the witness, "it was snowing hard and there was little visibility." The airplane was heading south, following State Road 40, "flying low" at an altitude of "approximately 300 feet off of the ground."

At 1229:02, one radar return was recorded from the airplane. This last return showed the airplane located approximately 1/2 mile north of the accident site at an altitude of 7,000 feet msl.

According to a report prepared by the Summit County Sheriff's Office, at 1230, the Summit County Dispatch Center received an emergency call in regards to a low flying airplane near mile marker 8 on State Road 40. At the time of the call, officers working in the area were unable to locate the low flying airplane. They reported that "the weather in the area was extreme. Visibility was less than 500 feet with heavy snow." About 1530, Summit Dispatch received a report that an airplane was down near mile marker 6 on State Road 40. The caller advised that the airplane was approximately 500 feet east of the roadway. Officers responded to the scene and identified the airplane as N1254Z.

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He did not hold an instrument rating. His most recent medical certificate was a second class medical issued on December 22, 2004, with the limitation, must wear corrective lenses. On the application for this medical certificate, the pilot reported that he had accumulated 1,090 hours total flight time. The pilot's flight logbooks were not examined during the investigation.

Aircraft information

Examination of the airplane's maintenance records indicated that the 1961 model Beech Debonair received its most recent annual inspection on March 1, 2005, at a total time of 3,823.2 hours. As of that date, the engine, a Continental IO-470-K, S/N 86029, had accumulated 394.5 hours since major overhaul. Review of the maintenance records revealed no evidence of any uncorrected maintenance discrepancies.

Meteorological information

The following weather conditions were reported at Heber City, Utah, located approximately 10 nautical miles south of the accident site, elevation 5,637 feet:

At 1155, wind from 320 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, rain, sky conditions: broken clouds at 1,600 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet, temperature 2 degrees C, dew point 1 degree C, and altimeter 29.83 inches.

At 1255, wind from 280 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, light rain, sky conditions: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, broken clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet, temperature 2 degrees C, dew point 1 degree C, and altimeter 29.81 inches.

The following weather conditions were reported at Evanston, Wyoming, located approximately 41 nautical miles north-northeast of the accident site, elevation 7,163 feet:

At 1153, wind from 210 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky conditions: few clouds at 1,500 feet, broken clouds at 3,100 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet, temperature 1 degree C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.81 inches.

At 1207, wind from 250 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, snow and mist, sky conditions: few clouds at 900 feet, scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.80 inches.

At 1223, wind from 240 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, snow and mist, sky conditions: broken clouds at 900 feet, broken clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.80 inches.

At 1230, wind from 240 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, snow and mist, sky condition: scattered clouds at 600 feet, broken clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.80 inches.

At 1234, wind from 230 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 1 3/4 miles, snow and mist, sky condition: broken clouds at 600 feet, broken clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.80 inches.

At 1238, wind from 220 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 1 1/2 miles, snow and mist, sky condition: broken clouds at 400 feet, broken clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, and altimeter 29.79 inches.

At 1253, wind from 210 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 1 mile, snow and mist, sky condition: overcast at 4