ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA
N2371Y
PIPER PA-36-375
THE ACFT HAD RECENTLY BEEN SOLD & WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE BUYER IN OKLAHOMA. AFTER A REFUELING STOP AT THE CORONADO ARPT, THE PLT TOOK OFF & PROCEEDED NORTHEAST TO AVOID ROTOR CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SANDIA MOUNTAINS ABOUT 8 MI EAST OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE MOUNTAINS ARE ORIENTED NORTH & SOUTH & EXTEND ABOUT 18 MI NORTH OF ALBUQUERQUE. AFTER GOING AROUND THE NORTH END OF THE MOUNTAINS, THE PLT TURNED SOUTHEAST. HE WAS FLYING AT APRX 1500 FT AGL WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & DOWNDRAFTS OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. THE PLT REVERSED COURSE & ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO CORONADO ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT ENTERED MORE 'TURBULENCE & SINK' & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE. THE ACFT DESCENDED TO TREETOP HEIGHT, HIT THE TOP OF A SMALL TREE & THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN AN AREA OF BRUSH. THE 1416 MST WIND AT ALBUQUERQUE WAS FROM 220 DEG AT 30 GUSTING TO 58 KTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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