On August 7, 1986, a Boeing E75 (registration N1387V) was involved in an aviation accident near Tooele, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to select an appropriate route around mountainous terrain while encountering adverse weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported encountering a downdraft while crossing a ridgeline in mountainous terrain approximately five miles northeast of Tooele, Utah.
What happened
The pilot reported that he encountered a downdraft while crossing a ridgeline in mountainous terrain, approximately 5 miles northeast of Tooele, Utah. The elevation of the accident site was about 9,000 feet and the temperature was reported by the pilot to be 80 degrees. This would have resulted in a density altitude of about 12,500 feet. The pilot said he should have selected a route around the mountains.
Findings
The density altitude was approximately 12,500 feet due to high temperature and elevation. The pilot acknowledged that he should have selected a route around the mountains.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to select an appropriate route around mountainous terrain while encountering adverse weather conditions.