Accident Details
On May 26, 2012, at approximately 2150 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172G, registered as N4640L, collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering about five miles southeast of Silver City, Idaho. The airplane, privately owned and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and flight control surfaces. The private pilot and two passengers received minor injuries.
Flight History
The flight originated from Rome, Oregon (REO), at about 1930, with an intended destination of Mountain Home, Idaho (U76). No flight plan was filed. This segment was the third leg of the day; earlier, the pilot had flown from Lodi, California, to Susanville, California, with the passengers. At about 1400, the pilot departed Susanville for Mountain Home but turned back about one hour later due to deteriorating weather and diverted to Rome. After landing uneventfully and initially planning to overnight there, the pilot decided to depart again as conditions improved.
Encounter with Weather
As the flight progressed over the Owyhee Mountains, weather conditions worsened. The pilot encountered reduced flight visibility, broken clouds, and precipitation. One passenger reported that flight visibility dropped to zero. While maneuvering over a ridgeline and near weather, the pilot stated that the airplane stalled. He pushed the nose down to break the aerodynamic stall and then pitched up abruptly to match approaching rising terrain. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and settled to the ground.
Rescue
Initial rescue efforts were hindered by snow showers and poor visibility. On May 28, search and rescue personnel reached the accident site and airlifted the pilot and passengers to a regional medical facility in Boise, Idaho.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.