NEAR BOZEMAN, MT, USA
N7273J
PIPER PA-28-140
THE PILOT WAS ON AN EARLY MORNING FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 8500 FEET. WHILE INBOUND TO HIS DESTINATION, HE ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY WITH SNOW. AS HE STARTED A RIGHT TURN TO CORRECT TO HIS DESIRED COURSE, HIS PASSENGER ALERTED HIM OF A HILL AHEAD. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, HE EXPERIENCED A RAPID DESCENT. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND TRIED TO CLIMB, BUT WAS UNABLE. WHILE LOOSING AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN IN WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS A STALL. THE PLANE STRUCK A TREE BEFORE IMPACTING IN 4 TO 5 FT OF SNOW ON A MOUNTAIN SLOPE. BOTH OCCUPANTS SURVIVED THE IMPACT. THE ELT WAS REMOVED AND SWITCHED FROM "ARM" TO "ON." IT WAS CARRIED DURING THEIR TREK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THE SIGNAL EVENTUALLY LED SEARCH AIRCRAFT TO THEIR LOCATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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