March 3, 2013, Saratoga, Wyo., Cessna 172M Skyhawk

At about 1558 Mountain time, the airplane impacted trees and snow-covered mountainous terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a VFR flight plan.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A VFR flight resulted in a fatal crash into snow-covered mountainous terrain at 1558 Mountain time, causing the pilot's death and substantial aircraft damage.
Despite technically prevailing visual conditions, a witness observed the aircraft flying low through an opening in low, broken clouds that obscured local terrain.
An ELT signal was received at the time of the crash, but search and rescue efforts, initiated after the flight was overdue, located the wreckage almost a full day later on March 5.

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A witness saw the airplane fly overhead in an easterly direction near the time of the accident at about 500 feet agl. She stated the airplane wasn’t visible until directly overhead through an opening in the low and broken clouds. The foothills and Pennock Mountain were not visible because of the low clouds.