19981024030189A

Acft reportedly encountered downdrafts and was unable to maintain altitude.(.19) on October 24, 1998, about 0810 hours pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N2164T, collided with trees and mountainous terrain at the 7,500 foot level on mount rose 10 miles south west of Reno, Nevada. The weather conditions at the accident site are unknown; however, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the Reno Tahoe airport. The aircraft, jointly owned and operated by the pilot and passenger, was on a personal cross-country flight, which originated at the Reno Tahoe international airport about 0755 and was destined for concord, California. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. According to the federal aviation administration (FAA), the pilot received three preflight weather briefings and was advised that VFR flight was not recommended. The Nevada division of forestry (ndf) reported that the pilot contacted them by cellular phone after the accident and reported their location for rescue. During the conversation, the pilot told the individual from ndf that he was attempting to fly through a saddle in a mountain pass when he encountered a downdraft which the aircraft could not out climb. The aircraft then mushed into the trees at a slow airspeed and ended up inverted on the mountain. An FAA inspector from the Reno flight standards district office said he lives on the lower slopes of mount rose. He reported that in the early morning hours the top of the mountain was obscured by clouds, with rain and lower ceilings occurring later in the morning. In addition, he stated that the hills which define the mountain pass (north of the accident site and west of the airport) through which the main east-west interstate highway traverses from Reno to sacramento was obscured by ragged low clouds. (.4) following departure, the pilot climbed southwest and was attempting to cross the sierra Nevada mountains from east to west when he reported encountering a downdraft. The pilot stated that he maintained best rate of climb airspeed and the aircraft continued to descend until it went below the tops of the surrounding ridges into a canyon which was too narrow to attempt a course reversal. As the ground neared, the pilot flared and the aircraft touched down in a rocky area on the mountainside and slid forward until co ntacting a boulder. The accident site is at the 7,500-foot level on a mountain 10 miles southwest of his departure airport. Transcripts of land line and air-to-ground communications established that the pilot received four preflight weather briefings and one in-flight weather update, and was advised each time that VFR flight was not recommended over his intended route due to an approaching cold front. Flight precautions were in effect for mountain obscurement, occasional moderate turbulence due increasing westerly winds, occasional moderate rime and mixed icing in clouds and precipitation, and forecast IFR conditions at his destination. An FAA inspector lives on the lower slopes of the mountain below the accident site. He reported that in the early morning hours the top of the mountain was obscured by clouds, with rain and lower ceilings occurring later in the morning. In addition, he stated that the hills which define the mountain pass (north of the accident site and west of the airport) through which the main east-west interstate highway traverses from Reno to sacramento was obscured by ragged low clouds. (-23) pilot departed rno rwy 16R enrte ccr via swr vtac using GPS for nav. Pilot entered canyon and encountered down drafts, was unable to climb. Acft continued to lose altitude and pilot crash-landed acft. Wx briefs given emphasized "VFR not recommended."