What happened
A state-operated amphibian was unable to outclimb rising terrain during its flight, resulting in an impact with the Margerie Glacier. The aircraft came to rest at an elevation of 9,650 feet MSL.
The investigation
The investigation into the accident was delegated to the United States by Canada. Investigators discovered that the pilot had not flown since a proficiency check conducted on 11/27/93. Furthermore, the preflight checks for the aircraft were performed by a civilian employee who reported directly to the pilot.
Technical findings revealed that the pilot did not perform a weight and balance calculation prior to flight. The aircraft was found to be 1,403 lbs over its maximum gross weight. Additionally, investigators located 80 lbs of frozen water within the bilges of the hull. Analysis of the power and carb air temperature settings utilized by the pilot indicated that the aircraft reached its maximum performance at approximately 5,000 feet MSL.