Incident Overview
A private pilot was unable to land at the planned destination due to deteriorating weather conditions and diverted to Grangeville, Idaho, approximately 33 miles southeast. Upon arrival, the pilot could not activate the runway lights and decided to divert to Elk City, Idaho.
Landing Attempts
The pilot attempted to land at Elk City but aborted the approach because snowmobiles were on the runway. Multiple subsequent landing attempts were also aborted due to continued snowmobile activity. During the climb after the last landing attempt, the pilot reported that "the crash occurred with no remembrance of the crash."
Witness Observation
The manager of the Elk City Airport observed the airplane making several low passes over the runway. On the final pass from north to south, the manager saw the airplane perform a steep climbing turn to the left. Shortly after, the airplane impacted wooded terrain east of the runway. The manager also noted that snowmobiles were operating on and around the airstrip prior to the accident and that operators were attempting to guide the pilot to the unlit runway.
Airport Conditions
The Elk City Airport is situated in mountainous terrain at an elevation of 4,097 feet above sea level. The runway is a single turf/gravel curved strip, 2,600 feet long and 150 feet wide. The U.S. Government Airport/Facilities Directory states that the runway is not maintained in winter. The airport lacks a rotating beacon and runway lighting. The accident occurred approximately two hours after sunset in dark night conditions. At the time, the runway was covered with about 12 inches of snow.
Pilot Background
FAA records indicate the pilot received a private pilot certificate (single-engine land) on December 20, 2003, five days before the accident.