What happened
The accident occurred during a training flight involving a Cessna 182R. The pilot was a student with only 1.9 hours of flight time specifically in this aircraft type and a total of 6.6 hours of pilot-in-command time. During the flight, the crew practiced turns around a point at an altitude of 800 feet above ground level (AGL). Following these maneuvers, a climb was initiated.
The aircraft was unable to clear the rising terrain due to high density altitude conditions, which were approximately 8,200 feet. The pilot reported that the aircraft lacked sufficient performance to maintain altitude and cleared the obstacles. Consequently, a forced landing was executed into the side of a mountain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact.
The investigation
Post-accident examination confirmed the aircraft's inability to clear the terrain. The primary factor identified was the high density altitude, which significantly degraded climb performance. The pilot's limited experience in this specific airframe contributed to the misjudgment of the aircraft's capabilities under these atmospheric conditions.
Findings
Contributing factors included:
- High density altitude of approximately 8,200 feet
- Limited pilot experience in the Cessna 182R
- Inadequate climb performance to clear rising terrain
The pilot attempted a forced landing but struck the mountainside. The event highlights the critical importance of understanding aircraft performance limitations in high-density altitude environments, especially for pilots with limited time in that specific type.
Safety message
Pilots operating at high density altitudes must carefully calculate performance capabilities before initiating maneuvers that require climb. Student pilots should be aware that their limited experience may lead to underestimating the impact of atmospheric conditions on aircraft performance.