Originally Posted by
IO540
I assume he was an instrument capable pilot - was he? If so, this is a mystery.
He doesn't seem to be in the FAA database anymore, but I am pretty sure he had an IR. However, the plane would probably have had minimal sophisticated nav kit - so if in temporary cloud could easily result in CFIT.
On the otherhand, the terrain at the crash site has a very sharp change in pitch (roughly 2:15 on the way and then 3:1 at the crash site), he would have had pretty limited climb performance at 11000 feet. It seems pretty likely he thought he was going to clear the ridge and then couldn't maneuver out of the crescent.