What happened
At 1801 MDT, the pilot and passenger departed on a local flight. When the aircraft failed to return to its origin, a search operation was initiated. The next morning, the wreckage was located in a box canyon, having crashed and burned on the west side of the canyon. The entrance to the canyon is situated to the southeast.
The investigation
The aircraft impacted the terrain on a southerly heading. Investigators identified impact marks, consisting of fragmented and gouged rocks, approximately 50 feet upslope from the final resting position of the main wreckage. Much of the debris was destroyed by fire.
An examination of the right wing revealed chordwise crushing of its lower skin. Both propeller blades were found to be bent and twisted, with the tips of both blades torn off. The investigation found no preimpact mechanical part failure or malfunction. At the time of the crash, the density altitude at the site was approximately 7000 feet.