Overview
A mountain flying instructional flight, conducted by a pilot with a certified flight instructor, ended in a collision with trees after a series of steep turns. The flight was part of practice following a mountain flying course held earlier that morning.
Witness Observations
Two witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude above the trees. According to their accounts, the airplane performed approximately five steep left turns at a bank angle of about 45 degrees. After completing these turns, the aircraft flew back over the witnesses' location and re-entered the valley. The witnesses then saw the airplane initiate another steep left turn, which took it out of view behind the trees. Shortly after, they heard an increase in engine power followed by the sound of an airplane colliding with trees.
Investigation
An examination was conducted on the airplane, its flight controls, and the engine assembly. The investigation found no anomalies in any of these components. The aircraft had been practicing emergency course reversal maneuvers in a canyon, which is a standard element of mountain flying training.
No Anomalies Found
The post-accident inspection revealed no mechanical or structural issues that would have contributed to the event. The absence of system failures suggests that the collision resulted from factors not related to the airframe or engine functionality.