Luscombe 8A | N37081

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot attempted to clear a section of rising terrain by following a road, where eventually the thrust available from the very low power aircraft was not sufficient to provide a climb gradient greater than the rising terrain presented. The pilot did attempt a return to the opposite direction from which he had come, and stalled the aircraft in the the process of that turn.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft become familiar with the hazards of attempted aircraft operation in areas of high elevation, high density altitude, and steeply rising terrain. The DTSB recommends that pilots circle to attain a proper safe altitude while remaining a safe distance from terrain before advancing towards the terrain.