Accident Details
During a nighttime flight over a government reservation, the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain approximately 1,000 feet below the mountain's peak. The terrain at the impact site had a slope of about 60 degrees.
The force of the collision caused a seat belt D-ring to fail, allowing the pilot to be propelled through the windshield. The pilot sustained a broken leg, facial injuries, and exposure to the elements.
Discovery and Rescue
The pilot and aircraft remained undiscovered until the following morning, when a US Army helicopter aircrew heard the signals from the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT). Upon locating the wreckage, the pilot was found alive with the injuries described.
Pilot Condition
The pilot suffered from exposure, a broken leg, and facial injuries as a result of the accident and the subsequent overnight stay at the remote site.