What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The pilot and three passengers were departing a remote, private airstrip. The airstrip is 1,000 feet long and 40 feet wide, at an elevation of 1,200 feet mean sea level. It is located in a narrow canyon with steep terrain on the north side, and lower hills on the south side. During the takeoff on a magnetic heading of 130 degrees, the airplane lifted off near the end of the runway. The pilot indicated that after lift-off the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the ground, and suddenly encountered a downdraft. The airplane began descending toward the ground, and collided with rough terrain. The pilot indicated the wind conditions at the time of the accident were 040 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE DEPARTING A REMOTE, PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRSTRIP IS 1,000 FEET LONG AND 40 FEET WIDE, AT AN ELEVATION OF 1,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. IT IS LOCATED IN A NARROW CANYON WITH STEEP TERRAIN ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND LOWER HILLS ON THE SOUTH SIDE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 130 DEGREES, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DESCENDING TOWARD THE GROUND, AND COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT INDICATED THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 040 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7318U · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.