Incident Details
According to the pilot, the flight was conducted eastbound along Interstate 70 with the intention of taking pictures. During the flight, the pilot reported encountering several "extreme" downdrafts that prevented the aircraft from maintaining altitude.
Landing and Impact
The pilot performed a "touch and go" landing in the eastbound lane of the interstate and managed to fly 50 to 75 feet above the road. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered another downdraft. It impacted the eastbound lane of the interstate, struck a highway sign, and bounced over the concrete barrier. The aircraft then traveled across the westbound lane of the interstate before coming to rest off the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
Environmental Conditions
The terrain at the accident location sloped upward to the north, east, and south. The temperature recorded 21 miles south of the accident location was 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude at the site was calculated to be 11,067 feet.