NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 2007, at 0950 mountain daylight time, a Diamond, DA40, N747PZ, collided with terrain while maneuvering in a box canyon 3.5 miles east of the eastern edge of Strawberry Reservoir, Utah. Diamond Flight Center rented the airplane to the pilot who operated it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the remaining two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Vernal, Utah, around 0900.

The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, that they were en route back to Spanish Fork, Utah, at 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when his passenger spotted an elk. He made a slight left turn in an attempt to view the elk. The maneuver put the airplane into the entrance of a draw. Within seconds the draw started to rapidly converge. The pilot applied full power and stared to climb but it was clear that the airplane was not going to clear the terrain. He also determined that a 180-degree turn out of the draw was not possible. He continued to fly the plane straight ahead and bled off as much air speed as possible before colliding with the trees. The airplane impacted the trees, turned 90 degrees, and was captured by the trees in a nose down attitude. The pilot and three passengers were able to egress the airplane without difficulty. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

The terrain elevation in the vicinity of the accident site is between 7,000 feet and 9,000 feet msl.

An FAA inspector that examined the airplane wreckage reported that the ELT was in the off position and the remote switch in the cockpit was armed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to turn into upsloping terrain at a low altitude.