Incident Details
The aircraft was enroute from a powder magazine to a staging area approximately 2 miles away as part of a seismic exploration operation. The pilot reported that while flying at an altitude between 100 and 200 feet above ground level (AGL), he initiated a right turn with a bank angle of 60 degrees. The turn was directed towards a bowl formed by low-lying hills, which allowed observation of a herd of antelope.
Encounter with Downdraft
As the aircraft turned, it encountered a downdraft on the leeward side of the hill. The downdraft caused the aircraft to settle into sagebrush. The pilot estimated the airspeed at the moment of impact to be 80 knots.
The sequence of events indicates a low-altitude maneuver in proximity to terrain, with a wind condition affecting the aircraft's performance.