Accident Details
A pilot initiated flight into a canyon at an elevation of 6,100 feet with the intention of flying over it. During the climb, the airplane began losing airspeed and altitude. The pilot attempted a turn but could not execute it due to insufficient airspeed, which would have resulted in a stall. Consequently, the pilot performed a forced landing into trees at the bottom of a ravine. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, fuselage, and empennage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by circling over a nearby city until sufficient altitude was gained to fly over the canyon.
Environmental Conditions
The calculated density altitude at 6,100 feet, with an altimeter setting of 30.14 and a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, was 8,238 feet. The published maximum operating density altitude for the C-172H is 13,100 feet. The pilot did not indicate whether density altitude was a factor in the loss of performance.