The pilot reported flying into a canyon at 6100 feet msl with the intent to fly over it. During the maneuver, the airplane started to lose airspeed and altitude. The pilot attempted to turn around, but couldnt because the airplane would stall due to insufficient airspeed. The pilot initiated a forced landing into trees at the bottom of a ravine, causing substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine at the time of the accident. The calculated density altitude for the conditions was 8238 feet msl.
June 5, 2010, Bountiful, Utah, Cessna 172H
The pilot reported flying into a canyon at 6100 feet msl with the intent to fly over it. During the maneuver, the airplane started to lose airspeed and altitude.
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot attempting to fly over a canyon at 6100 feet MSL lost airspeed and altitude, preventing a safe turn and risking a stall.
- This necessitated a forced landing into trees, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
- No mechanical failures were reported, but a high density altitude of 8238 feet MSL likely contributed to the aircraft's performance issues.
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