LYSITE, WY, USA
N71AT
Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON AN AERIAL SURVEY OF GAME THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A HEADWIND BUT LITTLE TURBULENCE. UPON APPROACHING A RIDGE HE EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN TO REVERSE COURSE DURING WHICH A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT REPORTED APPLYING FULL POWER AND ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AS 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE RISING TERRAIN, DOWNDRAFTS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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