On May 21, 1994, a Bellanca 8GCBC (registration N86980) operated by Schmidt, Richard O. was involved in an aviation accident near Challis, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot and his wife, both certificated, vacationed at a remote wilderness cabin. The aircraft was later found on a ridge near a saddle, with evidence of impact parallel to the terrain and power at impact.
Accident Summary
A pilot and his wife, who held a private pilot certificate, had been vacationing at a remote cabin in the wilderness. The time of their departure and the weather conditions at that time have not been established. The aircraft was subsequently located on a ridge, near a saddle that provided a route through canyons and valleys toward their intended destination.
Wreckage Evidence
Examination of the accident site revealed impact craters and a wreckage distribution pattern indicating that the aircraft struck the terrain in a direction roughly parallel to the ridge. Propeller damage and blade strike marks on nearby trees suggest that the engine was producing power at the moment of impact.