LEHI, UT, USA
N24741
CESSNA 152
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TO PROVO, UTAH, THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND ENTERED UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EVEN THOUGH FLIGHT IN THE AREA WAS RESTRICTED BY VARIABLE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ON TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION BY MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL. WHILE CROSSING A RIDGE, THE AIRCRAFT'S ELEVATOR IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY OUT OF THE AREA, BUT BECAUSE OF CONTROLLABILITY PROBLEMS, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BRUSH COVERED TERRAIN.
On December 29, 1994, approximately 1350 mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N24741, impacted the terrain while on a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Provo, Utah. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Salt Lake Municipal #2 about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, while en route to the Provo area he got off course and entered unfamiliar mountainous terrain. Because of variable ceilings and visibility in the area, the pilot attempted to continue to his destination by maneuvering at low level. While attempting to clear a ridge, the aircraft collided with something on the ground, and sustained substantial damage to the area around the elevator. The pilot was able to keep the aircraft in the air, but experienced great difficulty with directional control. For about two minutes after the collision, the pilot attempted to fly out of the area, but ultimately elected to put the aircraft down in the scrub brush covered terrain.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, HIS IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER THROUGH UNFAMILIAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION, AND HIGH VEGETATION AT THE SITE OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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