Flight Departure
After departing from Gustavus Airport, the pilot turned the aircraft toward Excursion Inlet and air-filed a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. Following the filing of the flight plan, no further radio transmissions were received from the aircraft.
Search and Wreckage
A search was initiated, but heavy fog, clouds, and darkness hampered the efforts. The wreckage was located the next morning, where the aircraft had crashed on steep rising terrain in a box canyon area. Impact occurred at the end of a valley that began near Excursion Inlet. The elevation of the crash site was approximately 4,000 feet, and terrain in that area rose to about 4,600 feet.
Weather Conditions
Two other pilots who departed Haines near the time of the accident reported that the ceiling was broken to overcast at about 4,000 feet. The mountain tops were reportedly obscured, but visibility below the clouds was about 20 miles.
Damage
The propeller blades were found with deep chordwise scars and leading edge/rotational damage.