What happened
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot departed from an airport near Aspen, Colorado, for a dual cross-country training flight. At the time of departure, the calculated density altitude was exceptionally high at 9,954 feet, indicating significantly reduced aircraft performance due to atmospheric conditions.
During the flight, the CFI directed the student to navigate up a canyon situated in an area with rising terrain. As they proceeded, the CFI took control of the aircraft in an attempt to clear the upward-rising terrain, which reached elevations of 11,000 feet. However, the aircraft was unable to achieve sufficient climb performance.
The aircraft struck tall trees at an altitude of 9,800 feet. The accident site had a calculated density altitude of 11,916 feet. Although the aircraft's service ceiling is listed as 12,000 feet, the actual performance in these high-density conditions was insufficient to clear the obstacles.
The investigation
Investigation of the flight revealed that the primary factor was the inability to climb over the terrain. The accident site density altitude was calculated to be 11,916 feet, which severely degraded the aircraft's ability to generate lift and maintain climb gradient.
Findings
The high density altitude was the critical contributing factor. The combination of high elevation and atmospheric conditions resulted in performance that fell short of the aircraft's published service ceiling, leading to the collision with trees at 9,800 feet.