What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed to the west with a reported 5 knot tail wind, 1.5 mile visibility, with snow. Individuals interviewed stated there was less than 1 mile visibility. With light winds out of the east, severe downdrafts occurred off the west end of the rwy 27, resulting in a descent rather than a climb. At the same time the aircraft drifted slightly right of course on a collision course with terrain. Aircraft impacted a mountain with a slope of about 70 degrees, in a slight descent, with high power, nose high attitude, with wings level.
Weather reported at 1115 MDT (1815Z) measured temperature/due point at 32/30, with 93 % humidity with light snow showers, winds out of the east at 5MPH, and 1.5 miles visibility.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TO THE WEST WITH A REPORTED 5 KNOT TAIL WIND, 1.5 MILE VISIBILITY, WITH SNOW. INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED STATED THERE WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE VISIBILITY. WITH LIGHT WINDS OUT OF THE EAST, SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS OCCURRED OFF THE WEST END OF THE RWY 27, RESULTING IN A DESCENT RATHER THAN A CLIMB. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF COURSE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH TERRAIN. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN WITH A SLOPE OF ABOUT 70 DEGREES, IN A SLIGHT DESCENT, WITH HIGH POWER, NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WITH WINGS LEVEL.
WEATHER REPORTED AT 1115 MDT (1815Z) MEASURED TEMPERATURE/DUE POINT AT 32/30, WITH 93 % HUMIDITY WITH LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS, WINDS OUT OF THE EAST AT 5MPH, AND 1.5 MILES VISIBILITY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.