Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of too low an altitude in high mountainous terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot encountered strong winds aloft when he entered a mountain pass at 10,500 feet msl. He then experienced a severe downdraft that caused an 800 foot altitude loss, putting the airplane below the ridge line. The pilot attempted to turn away from the ridge but was unable to clear the terrain. He flared the airplane to reduce forward airspeed and impacted deep snow.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 18, 1994, at 1730 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150M, N233DB, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 10 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the wind was strong when he entered a mountain pass at 10,500 feet MSL (mean sea level). In his pilot/operator report, he wrote: "I encountered a severe downdraft, causing me to lose 800 feet. I was now looking up at the ridge that I was looking down on only seconds before. I attempted to turn away from the ridge but it was too late. I flared just before impact reducing my forward speed. The plane came to rest on a fairly flat spot some 100 feet from the top of the ridge." -