What happened
The pilot was flying eastbound along Interstate 70 with the intention of taking photographs when the aircraft encountered several extreme downdrafts. These atmospheric conditions made it impossible for the pilot to maintain altitude.
During the encounter, the pilot performed a touch-and-go landing in the eastbound lane of the interstate and managed to fly approximately 50 to 75 feet above the roadway. However, the aircraft subsequently encountered another downdraft. This caused the plane to impact the eastbound lane of the interstate and strike a highway sign. The momentum carried the aircraft over a concrete barrier and across the westbound lanes of the interstate, where it eventually came to rest off the road. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
The investigation
At the accident location, the terrain was noted to be sloping upward toward the north, east, and south. Meteorological data recorded 21 miles south of the site indicated a temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on these conditions, the density altitude was calculated to be 11,067 feet.