What happened
A commercial pilot and a passenger departed on a mission to deliver supplies to a remote mining and gravel operation. The intended flight path required crossing a high mountain pass characterized by glacier-covered terrain.
Prior to the flight, the pilot had obtained a weather outlook briefing from the FAA the previous night; however, no updated weather information was acquired on the day of the flight. The forecast for the area indicated conditions transitioning from marginal VFR to IFR. Additionally, an AIRMET had been issued for the day of the accident, warning of turbulence near the mountains.
During the flight, the airplane collided with rising, snow-covered terrain at approximately 6,000 feet MSL. Following the activation of the aircraft's ELT, rescue personnel were alerted to the accident. Initial efforts by rescuers to reach the crash site were hindered by severe turbulence, light snow, low ceilings, and low visibility.