What happened
The pilot, who served as an assistant guide, departed from a lodge in a hurried manner following a telephone call from his wife. Witnesses at the departure site believed the aircraft possessed only enough fuel to reach approximately half of its intended destination near Homer, Alaska. At the time of the flight, the National Weather Service reported weather conditions consisting of low ceilings and restricted visibility.
Following the disappearance, search aircraft located the wreckage the following morning. The crash site was situated approximately 60 miles north of the direct track to the intended destination. Prior to the accident, the pilot had communicated to a State Trooper that the engine quit while using one fuel tank; although the pilot attempted to switch to the other tank, the engine failed to restart.
The aircraft collided with terrain during pilot-controlled flight, resulting in fatalities.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and discovered a mixture of fuel, water, and debris located within the fuel strainer and the line leading to the carburetor.