What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 6/30/2013, N3885M departed Talkeetna, Alaska for yellow jacket strip, near a hunting camp in rural Alaska under 14 CFR 91 flight rules. While trying to follow the Talkeetna river, the aircraft inadvertently began following iron creek, which led to a boxed in canyon.
When the airman realized the canyon was boxed in, he attempted a 180 degree turn to exit the way he entered. Due to the rapidly rising terrain and narrowing canyon walls, the aircraft was unable to complete the 180 degree turn and impacted the terrain approximately 3,200 feet above mean sea level with the left wingtip, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
ON 6/30/2013, N3885M DEPARTED TALKEETNA, ALASKA FOR YELLOW JACKET STRIP, NEAR A HUNTING CAMP IN RURAL ALASKA UNDER 14 CFR 91 FLIGHT RULES. WHILE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE TALKEETNA RIVER, THE AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY BEGAN FOLLOWING IRON CREEK, WHICH LED TO A BOXED IN CANYON.
WHEN THE AIRMAN REALIZED THE CANYON WAS BOXED IN, HE ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO EXIT THE WAY HE ENTERED. DUE TO THE RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN AND NARROWING CANYON WALLS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE 180 DEGREE TURN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 3,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WITH THE LEFT WINGTIP, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.