What happened
During a predator control flight over private rangeland, an accidental discharge of a semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun occurred inside the cabin. The passenger inadvertently fired the weapon, which struck the right wing, fuel tank, and aileron assembly approximately 40 feet above ground level.
The resulting damage caused the pilot to lose control of both the ailerons and the elevator. The aircraft entered a descending turn to the right and impacted the terrain in a nose-low attitude. Upon touchdown, the aircraft caught fire and continued to burn.
Findings
There were no injuries reported following the accident. The investigation determined that the primary cause of the loss of control was the accidental discharge of a firearm, which caused extensive damage to the flight control surfaces and fuel system.