Accident Overview
A private airport located in a valley surrounded by mountainous terrain was the site of an aircraft accident. The runway orientation was north/south (36/18), with the highest mountain peaks situated to the east and west of the runway. The accident occurred when the pilot, after making a low pass over runway 36 from the south as customary to check for livestock, climbed straight ahead beyond the rising terrain and entered left traffic. Ground witnesses reported that the aircraft then made another low pass over the runway.
Sequence of Events
At the north end of the runway, the airplane entered a sharp climbing turn. After approximately 90 degrees of turn, the aircraft crashed on rising terrain about one-quarter mile northwest from the center of the airport. Investigation revealed that the aircraft impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude.
Investigation Findings
No preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure was found during the investigation.