Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a sightseeing flight, he proceeded northbound up the Taku Inlet. He then continued over the Taku Glacier while climbing to approximately 5,300 ft MSL. Afterward, he turned to proceed down the Mendenhall Glacier and began a descent.
Sequence of Events
Approximately one minute after beginning the descent, the pilot decided to initiate a climb and return to the Taku Glacier because the Mendenhall area appeared to be closed due to weather. While climbing, the pilot encountered clouds, applied full power, and shortly thereafter the aircraft struck rising glacial terrain at an elevation of about 4,700 ft MSL.
Aircraft and Location
The aircraft involved was on a sightseeing flight. The terrain strike occurred on glacial terrain. Specific details about the aircraft type, registration, operator, and date of the incident are not included in the report. The reported location is near the Mendenhall Glacier and Taku Glacier, but no further geographic specifics are provided.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported the chain of events as described above. No additional information regarding injuries, damage, or weather conditions was provided in the report.