Flight and Terrain
On the return leg of a cross-country flight, shortly after takeoff, the pilot flew directly up a valley. The aircraft was required to climb from the airport elevation of 7,815 feet to clear a pass 12,095 feet high within a distance of 19 miles. The temperature was 20 degrees above standard. According to the performance section of the flight manual, the distance required for this climb was calculated to be 28.6 miles.
Maneuver and Forced Landing
The pilot flew up the center of the valley. As the terrain rose, it outclimbed the aircraft, leaving insufficient space to perform a reversal. A forced landing was witnessed; the aircraft landed on the side of a mountain above the timberline at an elevation of 11,948 feet. The upslope was 19 degrees, and the side slope was 7 degrees. The terrain was described as rough and rocky.