What happened
A noninstrument-rated private pilot and two passengers were conducting a cross-country flight at 10,000 feet MSL, positioned on top of an overcast layer. During the flight, the pilot contacted FAA air traffic controllers to request assistance. The pilot expressed a belief that he was only a few miles from his intended destination of Anchorage, Alaska; however, the aircraft was actually approximately 124 miles northwest of the city.
When controllers inquired if the pilot could maneuver toward and over a nearby mountain range to reach visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, the pilot reported that he lacked sufficient fuel for such a maneuver and noted he was currently flying through the tops of the overcast. During these communications, the pilot reported a significant discrepancy between his wet compass and his gyro-driven heading indicator. He also stated that the aircraft's only electronic navigation instrument, a loran, was unreliable. Shortly after these reports, radio contact was lost, followed by the activation of an ELT. The aircraft was later located crashed in a near vertical position on a glacier.
The investigation
Postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies. Although the pilot had reported issues with the navigation equipment during the flight, investigators found the loran to be functional. At the time of the crash, approximately five to six gallons of fuel remained in the left wing tank.