The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at an unknown time. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time of departure; a flight plan had not been filed. The airplane took off from a nearby airport at 1203 Central time.
The airplane was reported overdue the next day and found a day later in a remote area at an estimated terrain elevation of 3170 feet msl. Evidence suggests the airplane impacted terrain in a nearly vertical attitude and was nearly consumed by a post-impact fire. Weather at the time of departure included wind from 360 degrees at 13 gusting to 23 knots, visibility of 10 miles, a broken ceiling broken at 800 feet agl, overcast clouds at 1200 feet agl and temperature of three degrees C.
