Incident Summary
The pilot of an airplane reported that while flying in mountainous terrain and showing a passenger some sheep, the aircraft passed near an area of steep terrain. At that moment, a strong downdraft was encountered, causing the airplane to begin descending. The pilot immediately added full engine power in an attempt to stop the descent, but the airplane continued to lose altitude. It subsequently impacted an area of down sloping terrain covered with rocks.
Aircraft Damage
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to show a passenger some sheep in the mountainous area. The terrain in the vicinity was steep, and the downdraft encountered was strong enough to overcome the full engine power applied. The descent was not arrested, leading to the collision with the rock-covered slope.