MORAN JUNCTION, WY, USA
N6072G
CESSNA 150K
AFTER DEPARTING THE SANTA MONICA AREA OF CALIFORNIA EN ROUTE TO BILLINGS, MONTANA, TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH HIS SISTER, THE PILOT STOPPED IN OGDEN, UTAH, AND RECEIVED A VFR NOT RECOMMENDED WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE OGDEN TO JACKSON, WYOMING, LEG OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR JACKSON WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN AND UPON ARRIVAL WAS DISCOURAGED FROM CONTINUING ON HIS FLIGHT TO BILLINGS BY FBO PERSONAL AT THE JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT. ONE FBO EMPLOYEE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AT JACKSON AS 'HORRIBLE'. THE PILOT FUELED AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED FOR LIVINGSTON, MONTANA, FILING NO FLIGHT PLAN AND OBTAINING NO WEATHER BRIEFING UPDATE. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE HE ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PICKING UP ICE AND SNOW AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND BEGAN A DESCENT. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE GROUND.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ICING CONDITIONS AND TREES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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