Incident Overview
The accident occurred while the pilot was en route to an airport for a family gathering. At the time of the event, the aircraft was operating at a low altitude within mountainous terrain, approximately four miles from the intended destination.
Sequence of Events
While flying up a slope toward a saddle in a ridge, the pilot failed to maintain adequate clearance from the forest below. The aircraft made contact with a sixty-foot-tall conifer tree, striking it about four feet from its top. Following this initial impact, the plane collided with several other trees before descending into the ground. The wreckage was almost totally consumed by fire.
Environmental and Operational Factors
The saddle in the ridge was located approximately 300 feet higher than the accident site and about one-third of a mile further along the flight track. The investigation determined that the pilot was maneuvering in an area characterized by gusty winds. Additionally, the aircraft was operating at a density altitude exceeding 10,000 feet.