Incident Overview
A chartered aircraft carrying two passengers and a pilot went missing while searching for elk in mountainous terrain. The wreckage was discovered by another pilot also engaged in the elk search, who spotted the burning remnants in Carbonate Basin, approximately half a mile south of Miller Mountain, at an elevation of 11,130 feet. The reporting pilot noted smooth flying conditions at the time of the sighting.
Wreckage Examination
Investigators found that the top five feet of a pine tree had been severed. Branches from the tree were present at its base, along with pieces of plexiglass and the aircraft's pitot tube. A second tree located 63 feet away had its top bent over. The main wreckage was situated 135 feet from this second tree, resting on the side of the mountain. Both wings exhibited accordion-type compression damage along their leading edges.
Performance Calculation
Based on the computed density altitude of 10,720 feet at the crash site, the aircraft's calculated rate of climb capability was 340 feet per minute. No further operational data was available from the source.
Conclusion
The source does not provide a probable cause for the accident.