What happened
A pilot and three passengers were departing from a remote, private airstrip located at an elevation of 1,200 feet mean sea level. The runway used for the departure measured 1,000 feet in length and 40 feet in width, situated within a narrow canyon characterized by steep terrain to the north and lower hills to the south.
During the takeoff maneuver on a magnetic heading of 130 degrees, the airplane lifted off near the end of the runway. After reaching an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the ground, the aircraft encountered a sudden downdraft. This resulted in a descent toward the ground, leading to a collision with rough terrain. At the time of the accident, wind conditions were reported as 040 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts reaching 25 knots. The occupants of the aircraft were not injured.