Accident Details
On February 20, 2009, at approximately 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, registration N6443E, collided with terrain while maneuvering in mountainous terrain near Big Bear Lake, California. The private pilot and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane, registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, California, at 1115, with an intended destination of Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear, California.
Pilot Report
During the preflight inspection, the pilot drained approximately 18 ounces of water from the wing fuel tanks. He then added fuel to each wing tank, rocked the wings by hand, drained the tanks and fuel strainer again, and found no water. After departure, he climbed to about 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and conducted practice flight maneuvers for his commercial pilot's license. Upon completing the maneuvers, he departed the practice area northeast toward Big Bear City Airport. The route of flight took the airplane over mountainous terrain with elevations above 8,000 feet. The pilot planned to fly up a ravine and over the dam at the west end of Big Bear Lake. As the airplane entered the ravine, the pilot put the plane in a climbing attitude, although the indicated airspeed lowered while the altitude remained the same. Flying further into the ravine, he was forced to lower the airplane's nose to maintain best angle of climb speed, and began losing altitude. The pilot applied carburetor heat suspecting carburetor icing, but after a slight decrease in engine rpm, he determined carburetor ice was not an issue and turned off the carburetor heat. Seeing an area where he thought he would have sufficient room to turn around, he initiated a left turn. However, with indicated airspeed near 50 knots and the airplane getting closer to the treetops, he was only able to complete 90 degrees of turn before realizing he was not going to make it. He aimed for the area with the least amount of trees, and the airplane impacted terrain approximately 2 miles west of Big Bear Lake Dam at an elevation of about 6,100 feet.
Aircraft Damage
Review of photographs supplied by the airplane owner revealed that the leading edge of the right wing was buckled and crushed aft. The inboard portion of the left wing and flap exhibited severe deformation.
Weather Information
The nearest weather reporting station to the accident site was located about 8 miles west at Big Bear City Airport, elevation 6,752 feet. At 1210, the station reported wind 270 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 miles; skies clear; temperature 12 degrees Celsius; dew point -16 degrees Celsius; and altimeter setting 30.20 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude at the airport was 7,725 feet.