Flight Details
A pilot and five passengers departed eastbound from a rural airstrip for a cross-country flight across high mountainous terrain. The pilot had flown along the planned route numerous times before and obtained pilot reports of weather conditions in several mountain passes along the route.
Weather Conditions
The pilot received reports indicating wind speeds of 40 knots with turbulence. An area forecast included AIRMETs for mountain obscuration, turbulence in all mountain passes, and icing conditions. The pilot stated he was aware of the potential for turbulence over the mountains.
Encounter and Landing
The pilot climbed the airplane to 13,500 feet. As the flight approached the lee side of the planned crossing point over the mountains, the airplane encountered severe downdrafts. The pilot applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend toward blowing snow along the mountain ridge. The pilot said he had no alternative but to land into a snow bank. The airplane collided with snow-covered terrain at 10,500 feet msl.
Damage
The airplane's belly-mounted cargo pod and the landing gear were torn off the fuselage.