Incident Overview
A student pilot conducting a solo cross-country instructional flight became disoriented during the journey. After landing and refueling at Leadville, Colorado, the pilot attempted to navigate through a mountain pass toward the destination. During the climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of 12,000 feet, and the pilot attempted to continue ascending. The engine began to run rough, prompting the pilot to decide on a precautionary landing.
Landing and Damage
The pilot selected a dirt road as a landing site. To reduce speed, the pilot stalled the aircraft approximately 5 feet above ground level. The aircraft touched down in high vegetation and nosed over. The fuselage was broken aft of the cabin. The crash site was at an elevation of 11,000 feet mean sea level.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the engine by an NTSB investigator found no evidence of pre-accident failure or deficiency. The engine appeared to have been functional prior to the landing.
Conclusion
The pilot's decision to perform a precautionary landing due to engine roughness resulted in a stalled touchdown and subsequent damage to the aircraft. No further causal factors were identified in the official report.