What happened
On June 23, 2015, at approximately 11:30 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TU206F, registration N8424Q, impacted trees while attempting to land at Schafer USFS Airport (8U2) in Schafer Meadows, Montana. The flight was being operated by Red Eagle Aviation under 14 CFR part 135.
The pilot reported experiencing turbulence during the approach. At the time, the airport windsock indicated variable winds from the west with gusts. During the final approach, the aircraft encountered an extreme downdraft and touched down near the midfield of the runway. As the aircraft rolled down the runway, the wind shifted to a tailwind, causing the airplane to lift off with a left yaw. The aircraft settled back onto the runway, and although the pilot applied the brakes, the airplane failed to slow down. The aircraft exited the end of the runway and came to rest in trees.
A witness observed the aircraft on short final traveling at a higher speed than seen on previous days. The witness noted the aircraft landed in a 3-point configuration and bounced approximately four times before veering left and right and exiting the runway.
There was one serious injury and two minor injuries resulting from the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The engine showed no evidence of catastrophic failure. The magnetos remained attached, the ignition harness was secure, and the spark plugs showed normal operating and combustion signatures. Inspection of the cylinder bores, piston faces, and valve heads showed normal signatures.
The propeller remained attached to the engine with all three blades intact; two blades were bent aft and one was undamaged. The drive train rotated freely, and compression and spark were present. The fuel pump, fuel manifold valve, fuel metering unit, and fuel screens were all found to be operating normally and clear of debris. The oil filter was clear of debris, and the turbocharger system showed no anomalies.
A weather study determined that winds were approximately 10 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, with shifting directions due to the mountainous terrain. Cumulus clouds were present around the mountains and the accident site.