Flight Details
A commercial pilot was conducting a positioning flight under 14 CFR Part 91 after completing a multiple-leg cargo operation. According to the sole passenger, the pilot flew at low altitude while searching for animals.
Accident Sequence
As the aircraft approached a ridgeline, the pilot executed a steep climb from approximately 150 feet above ground level (agl) to between 400 and 500 feet agl. The aircraft then banked left at an angle of 75 to 80 degrees and began a descent to about 200 feet agl. The passenger reported that during the descent, the pilot looked toward the back of the airplane due to noise from the seats shifting under a cargo net. The passenger observed the ground approaching rapidly and yelled, "whoa, whoa, whoa." The pilot then looked forward and pulled back on the yoke just prior to the aircraft impacting the terrain.
Damage and Pilot Statement
The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage in the accident. The pilot informed the director of operations for the operator that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.