What happened
The aircraft was en route to Dawson City, Canada, when the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions. At the time of the incident, clouds were located near the tops of the ridges, while the aircraft remained beneath the cloud layer. The flight was being conducted in a slow configuration.
According to the pilot's account, he attempted to execute a 180-degree turn to avoid the adverse conditions. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled and pitched downward. The pilot reported that he had nearly recovered from the stall and achieved a wings-level attitude before the aircraft impacted trees and the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the final moments of the flight. Evidence indicated that the aircraft was operating in a slow flight configuration beneath a cloud layer with ridges nearby. The pilot's narrative confirmed a stall occurred during a turning maneuver, followed by a partial recovery attempt before impact.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the deteriorating weather conditions and the aircraft's slow flight configuration. The stall during the turn was the critical event leading to the loss of control. The pilot's ability to nearly recover suggests that the stall was not unrecoverable, but the proximity to terrain prevented a successful outcome.
Safety message
Pilots operating in mountainous or ridge terrain should be vigilant regarding weather changes. Maintaining adequate airspeed and altitude is crucial when flying beneath cloud layers near ridges to ensure sufficient energy for recovery from unexpected stalls.