GRAND JUNCTION, CO, USA
N714PM
CESSNA A185F
THE PLT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) WAS CHECKING OUT ANOTHER PLT ON A PIPELINE ROUTE. THE COPILOT WAS OCCUPYING THE LEFT SEAT & WAS FLYING THE ACFT. WHILE SURVEYING THE PIPELINE, THEY PROCEEDED NORTH UP A CANYON TOWARD DOUGLAS PASS. NO TURBULENCE & LITTLE EFFECT FROM THE WIND WAS NOTED AS THEY WERE EN ROUTE TO THE PASS. AS THEY APCHD THE PASS. A CLIMB WAS STARTED WITH CLIMB POWER. HOWEVER, ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE PASS, & SEVERAL HUNDRED FT BELOW IT, A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PIC TOOK CONTROL, APPLIED FULL POWER & TURNED TO CREST A HILL & DESCEND IN A VALLEY. HE THEN NOTICED HE WAS SINKING TOO FAST & TURNED IN THE OPPOSITED DIRECTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 8000 FT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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