Incident Overview
A pilot flying with two passengers entered a canyon area at an altitude of 9,500 feet. While traversing the terrain, the aircraft encountered a severe downdraft in the vicinity of an 11,320-foot mountain. The downdraft caused the airplane to descend to the canyon floor, where the pilot continued as long as possible before being forced to land.
Contributing Factors
According to the pilot, the density altitude at the time was approximately 11,000 feet. No mechanical problems with the aircraft were reported. The pilot later indicated that he should have been at a higher altitude and should have entered the terrain at a 45-degree angle to provide a better escape route.
Summary
The forced landing was the result of a severe downdraft encountered in a canyon environment. The pilot's assessment suggests that a different approach to altitude and angle of entry could have mitigated the situation.