What happened
While operating near Gerlach, Nevada, the pilot of the aircraft encountered a downdraft as the plane overflew a small ridge at a low altitude. The pilot was unable to arrest the resulting rate of descent before the aircraft collided with the ground in the valley beyond the ridge.
In both verbal and written statements provided following the event, the pilot confirmed that there were no mechanical malfunctions involving the aircraft. Although the pilot reported the encounter with the downdraft, the nearest weather reporting station indicated winds of less than five knots, and the pilot did not report any other unusual meteorological conditions or high winds contributing to the accident.