Circumstances
Witnesses reported that the pilot, an assistant guide, departed from a lodge in a hurry after receiving a phone call from his wife. According to the witnesses, the aircraft was believed to have fuel limited to half the distance to the intended destination near Homer, Alaska.
Weather
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported low ceilings and visibility at the time of the accident.
Accident Sequence
The pilot later told a state trooper that the engine quit on one fuel tank. He switched tanks, but the engine did not restart. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain under pilot-controlled flight.
The wreckage was located by search aircraft the following morning, approximately 60 miles north of the direct track to the intended destination.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector found a mixture of fuel, water, and debris in the fuel strainer and the line to the carburetor.