Flight Purpose
The flight was conducted to locate and photograph raptor nests as part of a volunteer program for the Bureau of Land Management's Raptor Inventory Nest Survey.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported circling a rock outcropping in a clockwise direction when the front seat passenger leaned forward and began pointing toward the front of the aircraft with his left arm, assumed to be indicating a bird's nest. The passenger maintained this position and repeatedly called out to the rear seat passengers, "There, there it is!" This posture obscured the pilot's view from the center post of the windscreen through the starboard (right) side window during a portion of the clockwise turn.
Shortly before impact, the pilot initiated a climbing right turn, but the left wing contacted the terrain. The aircraft then came to rest against a rock outcropping.
Outcome
The aircraft sustained damage as a result of the collision. No further details regarding injuries or aircraft specifics were provided in the source.