Incident Details
On an early morning flight over mountainous terrain at an altitude of 8500 feet, the pilot was inbound to his destination. He encountered an area of restricted visibility with snow. As he initiated a right turn to correct his desired course, his passenger alerted him of a hill ahead. Approximately at the same time, the pilot experienced a rapid descent.
Sequence of Events
The pilot applied full power and attempted to climb, but was unable to do so. While losing airspeed, the aircraft pitched nose down in what the pilot described as a stall. The airplane struck a tree before impacting in 4 to 5 feet of snow on a mountain slope. Both occupants survived the impact.
Rescue
After the accident, the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was removed from the aircraft and switched from the "ARM" position to "ON." The occupants carried the ELT during their trek down the mountainside. The signal from the ELT eventually led search aircraft to their location.