What happened
A fatal aviation accident occurred when a single-engine aircraft entered a canyon area at a relatively low altitude. While attempting to navigate through a section of the canyon where visibility was obstructed by the terrain, the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently struck rising ground between two ridges.
The wreckage of the plane was not located until two days after the initial incident, as the crash site was situated in a remote and isolated region. There were six fatalities recorded among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the crash. The primary cause was determined to be an aerodynamic stall resulting from improper in-flight decisions made by the pilot.
Additional factors noted during the investigation include:
- Miscalculation of the aircraft's airspeed, altitude, and distance from terrain
- Entry into a canyon area with limited visibility (blind canyon)
- Operation of the aircraft by an unqualified individual
- High density altitude conditions, estimated at approximately 7,000 feet