Incident Overview
Approximately 10 minutes after departure, a pilot was contacted by another company pilot flying in the opposite direction. During the conversation, the pilot stated that he was "looking for wolves." Shortly thereafter, the company pilot informed the pilot that his radio transmissions were breaking up. The pilot replied that it was likely because he was "behind a ridge."
Loss of Communication
The company pilot temporarily left the frequency; upon returning, he was unable to establish contact with the pilot. The aircraft was later located on the southwest side of a box canyon, approximately 100 feet below the top of the ridge.
Route Deviation
The normal course line for the route typically flown by company pilots is 6 miles away from the accident location. The pilot had no prior experience in mountain flying.