Accident Overview
A certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing a mountain flying checkout to a private pilot when the aircraft crashed. The impact occurred at an elevation of about 11,200 feet. The private pilot was fatally injured, while the CFI and a passenger received serious injuries.
Witness Reports
Witnesses reported that before the crash, the aircraft was flying very low up the middle of a valley toward a 12,700-foot mountain pass. The aircraft then entered a turn and disappeared from their view before crashing.
Instructor Statement
The CFI, a 95-pound woman, stated that the private pilot was bigger than her and that he kept overpowering her. She said he did not fight her for the controls, but he would not follow her advice to keep the nose down to maintain a safe speed. Additionally, he would not fly on the windward side of valleys. After she diverted her attention to look at a map, she looked up and noted they were in a valley with rising terrain on all sides. The private pilot relinquished the controls, and the CFI attempted to reverse direction. The aircraft impacted the side of the valley.