What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach to land on Runway 30, which measures 4,000 feet by 75 feet. Conditions included a strong left crosswind component. As the aircraft touched down or was in the final phase of landing, it encountered a sudden wind gust. The pilot decided to abort the landing and initiated a go-around maneuver.
During the climb-out phase of the go-around, the engine lost power unexpectedly. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing. The aircraft struck a power line and its supporting pole before crashing into the terrain.
The investigation
Airport personnel provided additional context regarding the weather conditions at the time of the incident. An operator reported that the wind was coming from the south at approximately 30 knots. A formal weather observation recorded at 12:45 MDT indicated winds from 160 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
Findings
The combination of strong crosswind conditions and sudden gusts created a challenging environment for the landing attempt. The decision to go around was made in response to these turbulent conditions. However, the subsequent loss of engine power during the critical climb phase prevented recovery. The impact with the power infrastructure resulted in the final crash sequence.