THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO AIRDROP SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT TO SURVIVORS OF A BOATING ACDNT, OF WHICH HE HAD WITNESSED THE DROWNING OF A CLOSE FRIEND. HE DEPARTED SANDY LAKE LODGE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE RESCUE AREA WAS LOCATED ON THE LEE SIDE OF MOUNTAINS THAT ROSE TO ABOUT 2000 FT ABOVE THE LAKE. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL, BEFORE THE ACDNT OCCURRED. THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND A DOWN- DRAFT FROM WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEG AT 35 GUSTING 60 KTS. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 80 KTS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
Index for Sep1989 | Index of months