What happened
An aircraft departed under visual flight rules (VFR) for a flight through mountainous terrain. Radar tracking monitored the aircraft from its departure point until it disappeared from radar contact while climbing at a normal rate through 15,400 feet. Subsequent recovery of the wreckage among pine trees revealed damage patterns suggesting a steep descent and a stall/spin event.
During the climb above 10,000 feet, radar plots showed the aircraft performing several course changes, moving from the southwest to the northwest, returning to the southwest, and finally executing a sharp right turn immediately before the rapid descent.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage showed no evidence of malfunctions regarding the airframe or flight controls. The propeller and engine damage were consistent with the powerplant being in operation at moderate to high power levels at the time of impact. Additionally, there was no evidence of airframe ice present during the accident.
Several contributing factors were identified during the investigation:
- The aircraft was operating near its maximum certified gross weight and at the aft center of gravity limit.
- The pilot lacked current instrument flying qualifications and reportedly avoided flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- The pilot failed to use supplemental oxygen, despite flying above the 12,000-foot threshold where usage is required.
- Meteorological data, including satellite and Doppler radar, confirmed widespread cloud cover over the mountains west of Montrose, with cloud tops reaching higher than the aircraft's flight altitude.