Accident Overview
During a flight over rapidly rising mountainous terrain, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into a box-like canyon and subsequently collided with terrain. According to the flight school's management, the pilot's approved flight plan specified an en route cruise altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl). However, the pilot reported that he deviated from this approval and initially descended to about 1,000 feet above the ground, approximately 7,000 feet msl, in order to view surface features.
Sequence of Events
Minutes before the accident, the pilot was flying over a valley. As the terrain rose rapidly, the pilot found himself unable to outclimb the rising ground, which led into a box-like canyon. He maneuvered the airplane in an attempt to avoid the terrain, but the aircraft ultimately impacted the mountainside at an elevation of about 7,200 feet msl.
The approved flight plan altitude of 9,500 feet msl was not maintained, as the pilot had descended to a lower altitude. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, date, time of day, weather conditions, and ATC involvement are not specified in the source material. The number of occupants and any injuries or fatalities are also not stated.
Conclusion
The accident involved a collision with terrain while the pilot was maneuvering in a box canyon. The pilot's deviation from the approved altitude and subsequent descent contributed to the circumstances leading to the impact, though no explicit probable cause is stated in the source.