Accident Overview
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain while attempting to traverse the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The pilot reported that after departure, he conducted circling climbs over the traffic pattern to gain altitude before heading west toward rising terrain. He estimated reaching an altitude around 9,000 to 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl) but could not recall the exact altitude.
Flight Path and Encounter
The pilot flew the airplane between two mountain peaks separated by a 1-mile trough. While passing between the peaks, the airplane encountered a downdraft that caused a nose-down pitch attitude. The pilot attempted to recover but found that the engine could not produce enough power to achieve a positive climb rate.
Efforts to Avoid Collision
The pilot leveled off the airplane and attempted to turn left, but the stall warning horn sounded. He then tried to turn right, and the stall warning horn sounded again. The pilot pulled the nose up before the airplane impacted the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a post-accident examination of the airplane and reported that there was nothing wrong with the airplane that would have prevented its normal operation.
Density Altitude Considerations
The approximate density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be 12,300 feet. According to the airplane information manual, this density altitude would only allow a 60-foot-per-minute climb rate.