SEA97LA048

The pilot, who was accompanied by a private pilot observer, descended through a hole in the clouds, while diverting from the planned destination due to en route weather conditions. During the descent, visual contact with the surface was lost. The pilot stated that as he resumed level cruise flight, they saw snow-covered trees and attempted to climb by adding full power and pitching up. Also, he said that when they saw that the terrain was rising faster than the airplane was climbing, they pulled back on the control wheel and made a power-on mushing flare into the pine trees and came to a stop in 3 feet of snow. The two pilots spent the night with the wreckage in winter conditions and were rescued the following morning.

On January 11, 1997, approximately 1925 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8414B, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain during descent near Sunriver, Oregon. The two private pilots on board incurred minor injuries. A VFR flight plan was filed from Boise, Idaho, to Bend, Oregon. The flight departed Boise approximately 1700 mountain standard time. Visual meteorological conditions and dark night conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The ELT operated and was used during the ensuing search for the aircraft.

The pilot-in-command stated that while en route they learned that Redmond airport was covered by a stratus cloud layer, so they decided to divert to Sunriver where some large holes had been reported by other aircraft. At that time, the sun was setting and it was getting dark. They were in radio contact with another flight school airplane which was about ten miles ahead of them on the same route to Bend. The pilots of that airplane informed them that they would be waiting for them over the openings in the undercast. When they arrived over a large hole, they made visual contact with the other aircraft as well as with some lights on the ground. At that time, it was full dark at their cruising altitude of 10,500 feet MSL (mean sea level).

The airplane ahead descended through the hole and minutes later reported back that he had been successful and was proceeding to Bend. The pilot then descended through the same hole, where he lost visual contact with the surface. The pilot stated that when he rolled out into level cruise flight, they saw snow-covered trees and attempted to climb by adding full power and pitching up. The pilot stated that when they saw that the terrain was outclimbing the airplane, they pulled back on the control wheel and made a power-on mushing flare into the pine trees and came to a stop in 3 feet of snow.

The pilots spent the night with the wreckage in winter inclement conditions and were rescued the following morning.