Incident Details
During a caribou spotting flight, the aircraft entered a downdraft and subsequently collided with hilly terrain. The pilot reported that he was engaged in spotting caribou and settled into the side of a hill. Passengers indicated that the aircraft was approximately 300 feet above ground level before descending to ground contact. The collision resulted in injuries to all five occupants and the destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
The official investigation identified two occurrences. The first was a loss of control during maneuvering flight, attributed to a downdraft and the pilot's inadequate altitude. The second was an in-flight collision with terrain, also during maneuvering, due to mountainous/hilly terrain conditions.
Probable Cause
Loss of control in flight due to a downdraft and inadequate altitude by the pilot in command, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain due to mountainous/hilly terrain.