Primary finding
Probable cause
Poor in-flight planning decision. Factors to the accident were: whiteout conditions and inadvertent VFR into IMC.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While following a highway through a mountain pass, the flight encountered a whiteout condition that reduced visibility to instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot lost all ground reference and opted to descend in altitude with the slowest possible airspeed. The pilot kept the wings level until the airplane collided with the ground in an open field.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 26, 1994, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Waco UPF-7, N134Q, collided with the terrain near Lander, Wyoming, during a personal flight. The flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Rawlins, Wyoming, on April 26, 1994, at 1715, and was en route to Billings, Montana. The pilot reported that he was following a highway in visual meteorological conditions. As the flight approached the mountains and rising terrain, the weather began to deteriorate and snow was falling. When the flight turned around a bend, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost all ground reference in the whiteout condition and was unable to turn the airplane around due to the lack of terrain clearance. The pilot opted to descend in altitude and reduced power to the slowest possible airspeed. The pilot kept the wings level until the airplane collided with the terrain in an open field. -