Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot continued the VFR flight into IMC weather conditions. Factors relating to the accident were the snow and obscuration weather conditions, inadequate preflt planning/preparation by the pilot in command, and the mountainous terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot took off on a VFR flt through mountainous terrain with no preflt weather briefing. The mountain tops in the direction of flt, visible from the departure airport, were obscured in clouds. The pilot followed a road at a low alt agl up a mountain pass, encountered a snow squall at the top of the pass and attempted to reverse course. The acft impacted terrain in a nose down attitude 500 feet from the road in the pass.
Source record
Factual narrative
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