Originally Posted By: Craig_Thompson
Was that a computer tablet in the pilots hand? (I only saw it in the slow motion at the end.)



Yoke mounted clipboard.

I didn't see any evidence of an "air pocket" but I did notice that the pilot had pulled the yoke pretty far back. I'm not sure if that aggravated the situation or if he knew that they were going in and wanted to bleed off some energy. Doing so either put them in the trees or kept them alive.

A commercial pilot flying Part 91 means that the pax were probably friends or family.