What happened
During a repositioning flight following a sales demonstration, a Cessna aircraft operated by the manufacturer was being flown by a sales pilot and a regional distributor. Before departing, the crew obtained a weather briefing that included an AIRMET for moderate rime ice. Although an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for a route over mountains with a minimum en route altitude above the icing level, the flight plan was not activated. The pilots informed a TRACON controller that they intended to fly under visual flight rules (VFR) through a mountain pass, planning to activate their IOT flight plan once they reached the other side where the altitude requirements were lower.
Analysis of radar data and cloud layers suggests the aircraft was likely operating in instrument meteorological conditions while traversing the pass. As the aircraft approached the exit of the pass, air traffic control warned the crew that radar indicated they were approaching rising terrain and asked if the terrain was in sight. One pilot reported that they were maneuvering away from the terrain, but radar contact was subsequently lost.
Radar tracking showed the aircraft performing a right-hand turn toward rising terrain while climbing to approximately 8,800 feet MSL. The final radar returns showed the aircraft fluctuating between 8,000 and 8,600 feet MSL before dropping to 7,300 feet MSL. An investigation using radar and aerodynamic data determined that as the aircraft turned toward the mountains, the bank angle increased until an abrupt pitch change, indicative of a stall, occurred. This led to a loss of control and a steep, nose-down descent. The wreckage was found at an elevation of 6,073 feet. Witnesses on the ground reported hearing a high-pitched increase in engine RPM and seeing the aircraft emerge from the clouds in a vertical descent. No mechanical failures were found in the wreckage.
Findings
- The flight was likely conducted in intermittent or continuous instrument meteorological conditions despite the intent to fly under VFR.
- The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during a climbing turn toward rising terrain.
- There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure contributing to the crash.