The solo Private pilot was fatally injured when the airplane impacted terrain at approximately 1745 Mountain time. The airplane was destroyed. Shortly before the accident, a pilot-rated witness saw an aircraft come out of a snow squall and fly past him. The aircraft continued to the north for a short period of time and then reversed course. It eventually flew out of sight; the witness then heard a sudden and significant increase in the engines power. The airplane hit a steep slope in the mountainous terrain. The witness reported it was already dark when he saw the airplane; there were low clouds and snow falling in the area.
December 16, 2005, Butte, Mon. / Piper PA-28-181
The solo Private pilot was fatally injured when the airplane impacted terrain at approximately 1745 Mountain time. The airplane was destroyed. Shortly before the accident, a pilot-rated witness saw an aircraft come out of a snow squall and fly past him. The aircraft continued to the north for a short period of time and then reversed course. It eventually flew out of sight; the witness then heard a sudden and significant increase in the engines power. The airplane hit a steep slope in the mountainous terrain. The witness reported it was already dark when he saw the airplane; there were low clouds and snow falling in the area....
Key Takeaways:
- A solo Private pilot was fatally injured when their airplane crashed into a steep slope in mountainous terrain, destroying the aircraft.
- The accident occurred in dark conditions with low clouds and falling snow, including a snow squall.
- A witness observed the aircraft flying erratically after emerging from a snow squall, then heard a sudden power increase just before impact.
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