Flight Details
The aircraft departed McCall, Idaho for a planned 45-minute flight to Cottonwood, Idaho. No flight plan was filed for the trip.
Search and Discovery
After the aircraft did not arrive at its destination, a concerned family member reported it missing, prompting a search. The wreckage was located the following day on a slope in the Salmon River/U.S. Highway 95 canyon approximately 3 nautical miles south-southwest of Lucile, Idaho.
Terrain and Impact
The crash site was on the west slope of the generally north-south oriented river canyon, about 800 to 900 feet above the valley floor. Terrain rises to 6,927 feet mean sea level within 5 nautical miles west of the site and to 7,814 feet mean sea level within 5 nautical miles east. The impact signatures indicated the aircraft struck near the spine of a northwest-facing finger ridge in a generally level attitude on an easterly heading. Sections of the aircraft continued east beyond the initial impact point into adjacent ravines before coming to rest.
Weather Conditions
Dark night visual meteorological conditions (no moon) existed at the time of the flight. The departure airport reported few clouds at about 10,500 feet mean sea level, while near the destination, broken to overcast clouds were reported at 10,000 to 10,500 feet.
Examination Findings
Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical or structural malfunctions during the post-accident examination.