MCCALL, ID, USA
N738RD
CESSNA 172
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT ENTERED A DRAINAGE AREA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH THE INTENT OF CROSSING A RIDGE AT THE LOWEST POINT. AS HE CONTINUED IN A CANYON, HE HAD A 500 FT/MIN CLIMB RATE & HE BELIEVED HE COULD EASILY CLEAR THE RIDGE.HOWEVER, AS HE CONTINUED, THE CLIMB RATE DECREASED & HE GOT IN A POSITION WHERE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO TURN AROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE & CRASHED NEAR THE RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 7900 FT. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFTS. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. ITS NORMAL CLIMB RATE AT THAT WEIGHT & ALT COMPUTED TO BE APRX 330 FT/MIN. HOWEVER, THE CLIMB RATE WAS NEAR ZERO JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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