Incident Overview
A private certificated pilot departed from a remote lake at an elevation of 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl) following a week of hunting and camping. After departure, the pilot flew south along a river drainage. The pilot reported that light rain was falling at the time and that he was navigating by pilotage using a sectional map and a topographic map.
Loss of Orientation
The pilot stated that he became disoriented as to his exact position and turned into a small valley that was about five miles north of where he believed he was. As terrain began to rise, the pilot climbed through 4,300 feet msl. Rain intensified, and the valley became too narrow to execute a turn. Clouds began to close in around the airplane as the pilot continued climbing to 5,300 feet msl.
Collision and Damage
The terrain continued to rise. The pilot noticed his airspeed decreasing until the stall horn sounded. The airplane then collided with rising, open terrain. The floats were sheared off the airframe. The airplane sustained damage to the wings, propeller, and fuselage.
Pilot Account
The pilot provided details of the flight and the events leading up to the collision. No other information was provided regarding injuries or the pilot's condition after the accident.