Incident
A pilot and three passengers departed on a personal sightseeing flight around Mount McKinley. The aircraft did not return from the flight, and an aerial search failed to locate it. The aircraft is presumed to have crashed in remote mountainous terrain. No flight plan was filed for the flight.
Radar Data and Search Efforts
Radar track data was located from an aircraft that progressed from the area of the departure airport toward Mount McKinley. It is unknown if this radar track corresponds to the accident airplane, but no other radar data matching the anticipated flight profile was found. The radar track terminated at an elevation of 14,400 feet mean sea level in the area of the East Buttress of Mount McKinley.
Search personnel conducted an extensive search operation. After 8 days and 528 hours of search flight activity, the search for the airplane was suspended. Search personnel determined that the search clues and radar track profile were consistent with the most likely flight profile of the accident airplane.
Conclusion
Aircraft damage and injuries are presumed. The final disposition of the aircraft and its occupants remains unknown.