Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting an authorized round-robin cross-country flight with multiple intermediate landings. The pilot had completed one landing at the first airport and three landings at the second airport, where the density altitude was approximately 6,700 feet. After departing the second airport, the pilot did not follow the published (recommended) departure procedures for gaining altitude. Instead, the pilot proceeded along the flight plan route directly toward the next authorized landing site.
Terrain and Climb Performance
The selected route crossed terrain that required the aircraft to climb at a rate exceeding its published maximum performance. Approximately four minutes after takeoff, the aircraft collided with trees and impacted the snow-covered mountainside at an elevation of about 7,840 feet mean sea level (MSL).
CFI Involvement
The flight instructor (CFI) reported that he had personally authorized the student to make the flight. However, the CFI instructed the student to change the route from the one the student initially selected (the accident route) to one over lower terrain. The CFI had not flown with the student in three months and had not provided dual cross-country training in nearly six months. Additionally, the CFI had not given the student high-density altitude flight training in the geographical area flown. Prior to the student's departure, the CFI did not review the latest forecast weather conditions with the student nor did he ensure that the pencil line depicting the route of flight was drawn away from higher elevation mountainous terrain.