Incident Overview
A pilot and his daughter were en route to their ranch to interview a potential manager when they encountered adverse weather conditions at their destination. Ground fog, dense at treetop level, obscured the area. The pilot, who was familiar with the terrain, attempted to find a location where he could descend below the fog layer.
Collision and Impact
During the maneuvering to descend, the helicopter struck 50-foot-tall trees. The impact caused the helicopter to fall vertically onto its roof and subsequently roll over. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
Sequence of Events
The flight was planned as a routine trip to the ranch. Upon arrival, the presence of ground fog prevented a normal approach. The pilot, leveraging his local knowledge, sought to navigate below the fog. While executing this maneuver, the helicopter made contact with the treetops, leading to the loss of control and the subsequent crash.
Aftermath
The helicopter came to rest inverted after rolling over. Emergency services responded, but the pilot was pronounced deceased at the scene. The status of the daughter was not disclosed in the report.