Accident Sequence
The airplane was in flight when the pilot initiated a turn away from rising terrain. During a turn to gain altitude, an air traffic controller queried the pilot and asked if she saw a road below. The controller advised the pilot that most pilots follow that road to her next checkpoint. After the pilot turned toward the road, air traffic control reported that they had lost radar contact. The pilot continued to climb while following the road. As airspeed decreased, the pilot added 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot then turned the airplane to the left in an attempt to avoid a stall. During this maneuver, the left wing clipped a telephone pole and trees came through the windshield.
Aircraft and Terrain
The flight took place in an area with significant terrain. United States Highway 95 runs in a northwesterly direction through a wide valley at 4,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) between mountain ranges, leading toward the pilot's intended checkpoint. Nevada State Highway 157 runs in a westerly direction into the Spring Mountain range, which includes peaks with elevations over 10,000 feet. The pilot followed Highway 157. The density altitude at 8,000 feet msl was calculated to be 11,660 feet.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions. Performance calculations indicated that the terrain along the pilot's ground track rose at a rate exceeding the performance capability of the airplane. It was determined that a climb above the rising terrain was not possible during the duration of the flight.