SALIDA, CO, USA
N37ER
CESSNA 172
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE CROSSED RUBY MOUNTAIN AT 9900 FT MCL. AFTER CROSSING, HE REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RAIN & 500 FT/MIN DOWNDRAFTS. HE STATED THAT HE FLEW INTO ROTOR WINDS & HAD DIFFICULTLY KEEPING THE WINGS LEVEL. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REVERSE COURSE, SO HE SELECTED THE ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE TO LAND, A SLOPING, ROCKY MEADOW. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSEWHEEL HIT A ROCK & THE ACFT WENT OVER ON ITS TOP. THE PLT STRONGLY EMPHASIZED THAT THE USE OF SHOULDER HARNESSES PREVENTED HIM & THE PASSENGER (HIS WIFE) FROM RECEIVING INJURIES. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, ANOTHER PLT WAS GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON MOUNTAIN FLYING IN A CESSNA 172. HE WAS FLYING APRX 15 MI SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE AIR WAS VERY UNSTABLE & THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. HE REPORTED THAT HIS CLIMB RATE NEVER EXCEEDED 100 FT/MIN, EXCEPT IN UPDRAFTS ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE RIDGES. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 8200 FT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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