What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Witnesses stated that N206SM, a Cessna 206, departed kalispell (fca), Montana, with 1 pilot and 4 U.S. Forest service employees on board. Witnesses noted dark clouds and thunderstorms in the direction of the intended flight. According to the surviving passengers, the pilot had become disoriented when a checkpoint was erroneously identified. The aircraft struck a mountain under deterioriating weather conditions. The aircraft was destroyed. There were 3 fatalities. The two surviving passengers managed to walk out of the wilderness with serious injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WITNESSES STATED THAT N206SM, A CESSNA 206, DEPARTED KALISPELL (FCA), MONTANA, WITH 1 PILOT AND 4 U.S. FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEES ON BOARD. WITNESSES NOTED DARK CLOUDS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE INTENDED FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVING PASSENGERS, THE PILOT HAD BECOME DISORIENTED WHEN A CHECKPOINT WAS ERRONEOUSLY IDENTIFIED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MOUNTAIN UNDER DETERIORIATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE 3 FATALITIES. THE TWO SURVIVING PASSENGERS MANAGED TO WALK OUT OF THE WILDERNESS WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.