More info, we can all learn from
I just got home from the hospital after a real short visit with J.C., who was the pilot of the downed plane here on Sunday. Here is the unofficial version of some of the errors made and some of the things that helped them survive. J.C. is still on morphine with lots of injuries, so this is all subject to change.
at a little after 1000, J.C. and Sparky briefed their training flight. Sparky had just come back from a flight with a different pilot. Conditions were ideal, CAVU & calm. He removed his survival vest. J.C. thought about his vest and helmet he usually wears while mountain flying, but discounted putting it on(it was within reach if he needed it).
They took off from the grass strip around 1030. A few minutes later he transmitted in the blind(no one received) that they were heading west of Canyon Ferry lake into the Elkhorn Mountains. He wanted to know more about canyon flying and thermals, so they turned toward Beaver Creek drainage. They had flown up 1 drainage, with a slight downdraft, as they got deeper, they turned across and flew out riding the opposite updraft. Next they proceeded to fly up the next drainage. The conditons seemed the same very slight downdraft towards the head of the canyon. J.C. said they made a normal lowspeed turn to the opposite side, ready to ride the updraft out of the canyon, (remember they are low and slow). the next thing he knew they were in a severe downdraft, it instantly stalled the plane. He nosed forward to fly the plane and knew they were going to impact the steep rocky terrain, as they would not be flying out of the draft. He had no time to pick a spot, it pick them. He kept the plane straight at impact and flew it until it stopped. He knew they hit hard and was amazed they were alive. His BAS harness had saved him, dazed he realized his foot was getting hot....FIRE! They managed to get clear of the plane, broke backs, head injury for Sparky, broken leg & sternum for J.C. The fire consumed the plane and every piece of survival gear in <20 minutes. Time is now ~1130