Primary finding
Probable cause
The first pilot's poor inflight decision to fly into a box canyon. Contributing to this accident was the box canyon and the downdraft.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Two private pilots were conducting a local personal flight over mountainous terrain. The first pilot elected to fly into a canyon. While flying upslope in the canyon the pilot reported encountering a downdraft. Unable to execute a 180 turn the pilot elected to crash in a nose up, slow airspeed, attitude.
Source record
Factual narrative
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