Accident Details
The pilot reported that after takeoff, he climbed to 9,700 feet mean sea level (msl) to cross the mountains. The airplane then encountered a "300 foot updraft, and then a 2,000 foot downdraft." The pilot decided to "land the plane without the use of the landing gear on the side of the mountain."
Passenger Account
One passenger noted that it was the pilot's first mountain flying experience. The passenger recalled the airplane was at 80 knots and 8,300 feet as they approached a mountain. The pilot pulled back on the control yoke in an attempt to gain sufficient altitude to clear the peak, but the airplane responded slowly, and the passenger stated, "we literally came straight down" and "the belly [struck the ground] pretty hard."
Site and Performance Data
Rescue personnel reported the accident site elevation at 8,510 feet. The straight-line distance from the departure airport to the accident site was 9 nautical miles (nm). The difference in elevation between the accident site and the airport (8,510 - 7,673 feet) was 837 feet. The computed climb rate was 93 feet per nm. The estimated airplane weight at takeoff was 2,670 pounds, exceeding the maximum certificated gross weight of 2,650 pounds. The altimeter setting was 30.49 inches of mercury, with a computed pressure altitude of 7,103 feet msl. Referring to the Cessna 172RG Maximum Rate of Climb chart, the airplane was capable of a climb rate of 464 feet per minute (fpm) and, at a climb speed of 79 knots, a climb gradient of 352.4 feet per nm.