What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot lived in area most of his life and owned a ranch a few miles from accident point on Mount Dora. Mt Dora is approximately 1000 feet higher than surrounding low ground, and rises gradually until near the top. Pilot flew about once a week in area surveying his ranch. Weather at clayton NM (cao) upon departure was vrb 6KT 10SM clr. Weather at the time of accident less than an hour later was 180 13 g 18KT 10 sm clr. Altimeter setting at time was 30.20 altimeter setting found on accident aircraft altimeter was 30.30. Aircraft heading upon initial impact with mt Dora was 174 degrees at the 6277 foot level which is about 30 feet from top. With high wind from south, there would be a substantial downdraft on north side of Mount Dora.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT LIVED IN AREA MOST OF HIS LIFE AND OWNED A RANCH A FEW MILES FROM ACCIDENT POINT ON MOUNT DORA. MT DORA IS APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET HIGHER THAN SURROUNDING LOW GROUND, AND RISES GRADUALLY UNTIL NEAR THE TOP. PILOT FLEW ABOUT ONCE A WEEK IN AREA SURVEYING HIS RANCH. WEATHER AT CLAYTON NM (CAO) UPON DEPARTURE WAS VRB 6KT 10SM CLR. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER WAS 180 13 G 18KT 10 SM CLR. ALTIMETER SETTING AT TIME WAS 30.20 ALTIMETER SETTING FOUND ON ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ALTIMETER WAS 30.30. AIRCRAFT HEADING UPON INITIAL IMPACT WITH MT DORA WAS 174 DEGREES AT THE 6277 FOOT LEVEL WHICH IS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM TOP. WITH HIGH WIND FROM SOUTH, THERE WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL DOWNDRAFT ON NORTH SIDE OF MOUNT DORA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.