Flight Details
The pilot departed from a valley airstrip situated in mountainous terrain. Rather than following the normal procedure of circling to gain altitude, the pilot elected to climb straight ahead, heading toward rising terrain.
Accident Sequence
As the aircraft approached a mountain pass, it was observed climbing at an altitude below the level of a nearby highway. No attempt to reverse course was noted. Subsequently, the aircraft mushed into the terrain.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, the pilot cited adverse winds at the pass as a contributing factor. The investigation also revealed that the density altitude at the time was 14,664 feet.