Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed into rising terrain, impacting left wing tip first, after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The pilot made a radio call at 1517 Mountain Standard Time stating he was landing due to smoke. The crash occurred at 1523 MST off the airport on an upslope with a 30-degree incline.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage did not indicate any in-flight breakup of the aircraft structure. No evidence of malfunction was noted in the exhaust system or heat shrouds that might have produced smoke. The severity of the impact was high.
Pilot Toxicology
Toxicological analysis revealed that the pilot was taking medication chronically. The drug levels indicated the pilot was taking larger than normally prescribed doses. The medication has effects similar to alcohol, including confusion, lethargy, and inattention. The pilot had taken an unknown amount of medication in the 24 hours prior to the accident.