Accident Details
On January 25, 2015, at about 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F airplane, registration N8368U, impacted terrain in the Routt National Forest, Colorado. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Aircraft and Damage
The airplane impacted sparsely wooded, mountainous terrain at an approximate elevation of 10,000 feet. Both wings were crushed and impact damaged. The fuselage was crushed and distorted. The empennage separated from the aft cabin but remained attached to the airplane via control cables. The right elevator was crushed. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Information
The private pilot sustained minor injuries. A review of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the pilot's private pilot certificate had been revoked several years earlier.
Pilot Statement
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he became emotional over previous life events and decided to attempt suicide by flying the airplane into the side of a mountain. He reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.