Incident Overview
An aircraft struck trees on mountainous terrain after encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) during a flight. The pilot reported that upon arriving in the Colorado Springs area, an undercast prevailed, obscuring the ground. The pilot contacted Pueblo Approach and Denver Center for guidance and was advised that Alamosa, Colorado, was reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
Flight Details
Due to a low fuel state, the pilot decided to divert to Salida, Colorado, instead of proceeding to Alamosa. While en route to Salida, the pilot identified an area of approximately five miles in diameter that appeared clear of clouds. An attempt was made to descend into this clear area.
Accident Sequence
During the descent, the aircraft entered clouds. The pilot then applied power in an attempt to climb, but the aircraft subsequently contacted trees on the side of a mountain. The aircraft's impact with trees occurred on mountainous terrain.