20160420008349A

The aircraft departed birchwood airport at approximately 0845 Alaska daylight time. The flight was being conducted for aerial photography and had four people onboard. At approximately 0900 Alaska daylight time the aircraft crashed into a heavily wooded area coming to rest at the base of a mature spruce tree approximately two miles southwest of the airport. The aircraft was airborne approximately 15 minutes, during which time it completed a series of turns in the area to the west of the airport before departing to an area approximately four miles northeast of the airport and then returning. The last position obtained by radar data shows the aircraft at approximately 900 feet with an airspeed of 101 knots and a heading of 110 degrees. The debris field shows the aircraft entered the trees at a glide angle of approximately 20-30 degrees and a heading of approximately 275 degrees indicating the aircraft made a near 180 degree turn to the left prior to entering the trees. The aircraft had sufficient forward speed for flight based on evaluation of the flight path and the length of the debris field which was approximately 150 yards. On-site evaluation of flight control cables revealed no anomalies that would have prevented pilot manipulation of flight control surfaces. The aircraft propeller showed signs that the engine was making power during the accident sequence. Subsequent tear down of the engine revealed no evidence to suggest the engine experienced a malfunction. Although a post-crash fire destroyed most of the cabin area, the aircraft empennage was separated from the main structure and remained largely intact. Foreign material found on the left side of the empennage and vertical and horizontal stabilizers was collected for forensic examination and was found to be that of a juvenile bald eagle.