Accident Overview
On the morning following his arrival at the Experimental Aircraft Association Convention (AirVenture 2006) in Wisconsin, a pilot and his passenger departed to return to California. The airplane had been refueled the previous evening. Before departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing via the Computer Science Corporation (CSC) Direct User Access Terminal System (DUATS) and filed a VFR flight plan.
Route and Departure
During the briefing, the pilot inquired about the best route to Utah, expressing a desire to fly west across Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312 feet msl). It was suggested that he instead fly south through Poncha Pass before turning west. The airplane took off at 0945 and immediately turned right, heading directly toward Monarch Pass.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported observing a low-wing single-engine airplane flying north up a canyon. One witness, located approximately 2 miles from the accident site, reported seeing the airplane pass overhead at low altitude and fly into a valley. When the airplane failed to emerge from the valley, the witness went to investigate and discovered the wreckage.
Accident Site and Damage
The accident site was at an elevation of 12,020 feet msl, surrounded by mountain peaks reaching 13,000 and 14,000 feet. The airplane's right wing had struck trees, and the aircraft came to rest inverted approximately 250 feet from the point of impact. The landing gear was in the down position, and the flaps were retracted.