Incident Overview
A solo cross-country flight encountered difficulties while attempting to traverse Donner Pass, a mountain pass with elevations ranging from 8,300 to 9,100 feet. The sky was overcast at the time. During the flight, the aircraft collided with trees and the terrain.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the aircraft did not climb as well as anticipated. As he tried to maneuver through the trees in the high pass, the aircraft stalled and settled into pine trees and snow.
Aftermath
Following the collision, the pilot exited the aircraft and hiked out to a nearby highway to seek assistance.