Incident Overview
A pilot conducted a precautionary landing in a field after the airplane collided with a rock during the landing. The flight had encountered performance issues while climbing in mountainous terrain.
Sequence of Events
The pilot departed when the ambient temperature was about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As the flight progressed northbound and the airplane climbed toward mountainous terrain, temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the airplane reached approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), it would not climb further, and the engine temperature gauge indicated 240 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot attempted to return to a nearby airport but could not attain the altitude needed to transition through a mountain pass. He subsequently made a precautionary landing in a field, during which the airplane collided with a rock.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a post-accident test-run on the engine, and it operated normally. The density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be in excess of 5,300 feet.