What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft over the Great Salt Lake region. During the flight, the pilot descended to a very low altitude before reaching an uninhabited island located within the lake. Upon approaching the island, the pilot initiated a pull-up maneuver with the intent of flying over a ridgeline situated on the island.
During this maneuver, the left wingtip of the aircraft struck rising terrain near the top of the ridgeline. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control and cartwheel over the ridgeline. The aircraft then traveled approximately 750 feet before ultimately impacting the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact. Examination of the flight path indicated that the aircraft was operating at a low altitude while attempting to clear terrain features on an island in the Great Salt Lake. The point of initial contact was identified as the left wingtip striking the ridgeline, which initiated the violent motion that led to the final rest position.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the pilot's decision to perform a low-altitude maneuver over uneven terrain. The pull-up maneuver resulted in insufficient clearance between the aircraft and the rising ground. The left wingtip impact with the ridgeline caused the loss of control and subsequent cartwheeling motion. No mechanical failures or pre-accident anomalies were reported that would have prevented the pilot from completing the maneuver safely.