What happened
A cargo operation flying between Salmon and Indian Creek ended in a fatal accident when the aircraft departed from its intended flight path. During the mission, the pilot diverted the flight to fly over a large area of game to accommodate the interests of a passenger. While operating at a low altitude and reduced airspeed, the single-engine airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall.
The subsequent impact with the ground caused the aircraft to burst into flames. There were two fatalities resulting from the crash, involving both the pilot and the passenger.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors that contributed to the loss of control. The primary cause was a stall occurring because the pilot failed to sustain the necessary flying speed. Additional contributing elements included:
- The aircraft was operating at an unapproved low altitude
- The flight path had deviated from the original planned route
- The impact of high density altitude, which was approximately 9,000 feet