The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1556 Mountain time when it impacted terrain. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Witnesses reported the accident airplane flew over their location from the north and made a 360-degree left turn, followed by a 180-degree left turn. The airplane then departed to the west and climbed. Witnesses then observed the airplane in a descending left turn to ground impact. The airplane “belly flopped” and continued through a series of trees before it came to rest about 70 yards from the initial impact point.
