Flight Details
The airplane was operated by the manufacturer on a sales demonstration itinerary. Following a demonstration, it was being repositioned with two pilots on board: a commercially licensed manufacturer's sales pilot and a private licensed regional sales distributor.
Weather and Flight Plan
Before departure, one pilot requested and received an abbreviated weather briefing, which included an AIRMET for occasional moderate rime ice. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan for a route over mountainous terrain, with a published Minimum En route Altitude (MEA) above the predicted icing level. However, the flight plan was not activated. The pilots informed a TRACON controller providing VFR advisories that they intended to continue under VFR through a mountain pass and open the IFR flight plan after reaching the other side, where the MEA was lower.
Radar and Performance Analysis
A review of Mode C altitude reports and cloud base/top analysis indicated the flight was likely in at least intermittent, and possibly mostly solid, instrument meteorological conditions while transiting the pass. As the flight approached the far end of the pass, the controller advised the pilots that radar showed they were heading into rising terrain. Asked if they had the terrain in sight, one pilot responded, "we're maneuvering away from the terrain right now." Radar contact was then lost.
Recorded radar data showed the airplane made a right-hand turn toward rising terrain while climbing to approximately 8,800 feet mean sea level (msl). The last minute of data indicated altitudes of 8,000, 8,800, and 8,600 feet msl, with the final return at 7,300 feet msl. An aircraft performance study using radar and aerodynamic data from Cessna revealed that as the turn progressed, the bank angle steadily increased until a very abrupt pitch change consistent with a stall occurred. The airplane then departed controlled flight and descended at a steep nose-down attitude into mountainous terrain.
Witnesses and Wreckage
The wreckage was subsequently located at an elevation of 6,073 feet. Nearby ground witnesses first heard the aircraft's sound, which abruptly changed to a high-pitched increasing rpm. They then saw the airplane emerge from the clouds in an almost vertical nose-down attitude. Witnesses described the weather as cold with drizzling rain and reduced visibility due to clouds. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure.