TOMS PLACE, CA, USA
N6274W
PIPER PA-28-140
THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A HIGH ELEVATION BASIN LOCATED ABOVE 10,000 FEET MSL IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE RIM OF THE BASIN WAS DETERMINED TO BE ABOVE 12,500 FEET. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT 10,500 FEET MSL WAS ABOUT 12,500 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT'S BEST RATE OF CLIMB WAS LESS THAN 400 FEET PER MILE. THE FLOOR OF THE BASIN ROSE IN ELEVATION ABOUT 400 FEET PER MILE IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TERRAIN OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ENTERING A HIGH ELEVATION BASIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WHICH REDUCED THE AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE TO LESS THAN THE RATE OF CLIMB OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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