What happened
During a scheduled local sightseeing excursion, an aircraft experienced a loss of power while operating at cruise altitude. Following the engine failure, the pilot initiated a descent to lower an altitude and attempted to perform an emergency landing. The aircraft subsequently struck rough ground during the forced landing maneuver.
The incident resulted in one fatality among the passengers, while the remaining six occupants of the aircraft survived the impact with either minor injuries or no injuries at all.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified a powerplant failure as the primary driver of the event, though the specific reason for the engine malfunction remains undetermined. Several environmental and situational factors were noted during the analysis:
- The aircraft was operating in high density altitude conditions, estimated at roughly 5,400 feet.
- The landing site consisted of uneven and rugged terrain.
- The flight ended in a forced landing away from an established airfield.