Flight Details
The flight was conducted to provide mountain flight instruction to the pilot/aircraft owner, who was from California. A highly experienced local mountain/backcountry flight instructor was aboard.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft approached a north-south oriented private backcountry airstrip from south to north at a slow speed, flying about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. About one-third of the way down the 1,900-foot-long airstrip, the pilot/owner, observed sitting in the left seat, dropped a small package out of the left side window. Witnesses then heard the engine power increase. The airplane continued north in level flight before beginning a left turn.
The aircraft was subsequently seen striking a line of 60- to 80-foot-tall trees approximately 1,400 feet north of the departure end while in a left bank. After the tree strike, the aircraft entered a sharp left turn, pitched steeply nose down, and impacted the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
On-scene and follow-up examinations of the wreckage found no evidence of any aircraft or engine malfunction.