Incident Overview
A ski-equipped aircraft was on a flight to transport two skiers to a glacier area, where they intended to ski downhill to a pickup location. The pilot landed the aircraft on upsloping terrain. Visibility was generally good, but a whiteout phenomenon was prevalent in the selected landing area. During touchdown, the aircraft struck an unseen snow drift, which bent the right main gear. The glacier, known for its unique propensity to induce whiteout illusions, was a contributing factor to the obscured landing conditions.
Post-Accident Actions
No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was installed in the aircraft. Consequently, the two passengers skied down the glacier and summoned help. However, wind began blowing and delayed the rescue effort.
Subsequent Helicopter Crash
Two days later, an Air Force H-3 helicopter crashed downhill from N8035D while attempting to recover the aircraft and its occupants. The helicopter's crash location was downhill from the initial landing site. Another helicopter was later used to recover the occupants of both downed aircraft.
Recovery
The occupants of both aircraft were eventually recovered by a second helicopter. The incident highlights the challenges of glacier operations, including whiteout conditions and the importance of ELTs.