What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Witness statements indicate pilot was flying between 50 and 100 feet AGL near the rio grand gorge rim when the aircraft abruptly pitched up then rolled and impacted the ground vertically. Rio grand gorge runs n/s and is from 900 to 1000 feet deep at the accident site. Winds reported at the surface to be 9 KTS guting to 15 at the time of the accident. Winds through the canyon have been known to cause extreme turbulence in the vicinity of the rim. Pilot in command sustained servere hip and leg injuries. Passenger sustained minor injuries. Aircraft destroyed
As the FAA filed it
WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE PILOT WAS FLYING BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET AGL NEAR THE RIO GRAND GORGE RIM WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED UP THEN ROLLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND VERTICALLY. RIO GRAND GORGE RUNS N/S AND IS FROM 900 TO 1000 FEET DEEP AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. WINDS REPORTED AT THE SURFACE TO BE 9 KTS GUTING TO 15 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WINDS THROUGH THE CANYON HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE EXTREME TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIM. PILOT IN COMMAND SUSTAINED SERVERE HIP AND LEG INJURIES. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.