Accident Details
On November 21, 2008, at approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B (registration N8387N) executed a forced landing in mountainous terrain about 12 nautical miles northwest of Hanna, Utah, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot and right front seat passenger sustained serious injuries, and the left rear seat passenger was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91; no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, around 1030, destined for Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported checking weather the day before and the morning of the accident; forecasts indicated visual flight rules conditions. After takeoff and climb to 10,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot visually surveyed the approaching mountain summit and prepared an acceptable rate of climb while adjusting for moderately increasing tailwinds. As the mountain range neared, the aircraft encountered unusually strong downdrafts related to the summit contours. The pilot observed a loss of altitude, speed, and rate of climb, and adverse terrain made a safe turn infeasible. The pilot sought a direct level clearing for an emergency landing, configuring the airplane with flaps in the optimal climb position. Despite full engine power, the aircraft continued losing altitude and impacted a tree clearing in approximately 18 inches of snow.
Aircraft Recovery
Recovery personnel reported the airplane came to rest upright in an open meadow surrounded by rising mountainous terrain, about 150 feet from the initial touchdown point. The accident site lay about 87 nautical miles northwest of SLC at approximately 9,800 feet mean sea level. Both wings remained attached; the main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage partially separated at the aft cabin bulkhead area. The engine separated and came to rest about 10 feet in front of the main wreckage. Recovery teams drained about 7 gallons of aviation fuel from both wing tanks.
Examination
An examination overseen by an FAA airworthiness inspector found flight control continuity throughout the airplane; the flap handle was in the first detent (10-degree position) and the fuel selector handle in the BOTH position. The propeller remained attached to the engine. Both blades showed leading edge damage, tip curling, and S-bending. One blade tip had a semi-circular separation on the leading edge and was bent aft about 30 degrees starting 12 inches from the hub. The other blade was bent aft about 15 inches from the hub outward, with the outboard 1 inch of the tip curled aft about 80 degrees. The pilot reported no anomalies before or during the en route portion, stating, "It was working just fine."
Weather Conditions
At 1053, the Automated Surface Observing System at Salt Lake City International Airport (87 nautical miles northwest of the accident site) reported winds from 350 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 13,000 feet, scattered clouds at 17,000 feet, broken clouds at 20,000 feet, temperature 6 degrees Celsius, dew point minus 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.36 inches of Mercury.