What happened
A twin engine aircraft was conducting a local training operation for the US Forest Service, transporting a crew of three along with several firefighters participating in skydiving exercises. After completing two successful jumps, the flight was maneuvering near a mountain positioned over Lake City. As the pilot-in-command decreased airspeed to facilitate the exit of the skydivers, the aircraft entered a stall. This loss of lift caused the plane to impact trees and crash within a forested region.
The accident resulted in one fatality and two serious injuries among the occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the pilot-in-command misjudged the aircraft's speed, altitude, and distance from terrain during an inadequately planned approach. The investigation also noted that environmental conditions, specifically high density altitude and the presence of updrafts and downdrafts, acted as contributing factors to the loss of control.