SEA99LA017

The pilot-in-command, accompanied by a passenger, departed on an elk-spotting flight in the Piper PA-18. Approximately 9,500 feet above sea level, while in mountainous terrain, the aircraft encountered leeward wind conditions and the pilot attempted a course reversal. During the reversal, the pilot determined that too much altitude had been lost and he continued the turn, returning to the original downslope track toward lower terrain. During the descending turn, the pilot perceived a stall condition, lowered the nose further, and applied rudder to effect a recovery. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered into more stable wind conditions and the pilot attempted to avoid tree impacts by raising the nose. The aircraft impacted trees during the pullout, after which the pilot returned to his point of origination and landed.

On November 27, 1998, approximately 1200 mountain standard time, a Champion "Citabria" 7ECA, N8306V, registered to and being operated by a commercial pilot, incurred substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees while maneuvering in mountainous terrain approximately two miles northeast of Jardine, Montana. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight, which was personal and local, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Gardiner, Montana, approximately 1100.

The pilot reported that he and the passenger departed about 88 pounds below gross weight on an elk-spotting flight. He reported that about "one hour into the flight and somewhere above 9,500 [feet] I was aware of what seemed greater than reported wind, especially flying over the pass between two drainages, Crevass Basin and Pine Creek, above and east of Jardine, Montana."

"Immediately after crossing the pass I realized that I had entered the winds of the leeward side. I turned to go back, but at the 180 degree point in the turn it was evident the wind had carried me down to an altitude making that an unwise move, so I kept the turn going to continue down the drainage I was in, toward lower country." (Refer to CHART I)

"It was in the last part of this somewhat diving turn that the aircraft dropped. Assuming it was a stall I pushed forward to increase the already nose low attitude and pushed rudder to level the aircraft. Neither move had much effect and the aircraft was being pounded on all quadrants. At a point where it looked as if we were going to be carried into the trees the air smoothed and my control efforts leveled the wings. I eased the nose up but not fast enough to avoid some trees on a ridge ahead. The tree tops we impacted did not change our almost level attitude. There had been no changes in engine sound and the controls were all functioning properly so [I] proceeded back to the airport."

The aircraft sustained evidence of tree strikes on the left, outboard wing leading edge as well as the right, inboard horizontal stabilizer leading edge (refer to photographs 1 and 2).