What happened
A pilot departed from a remote village transporting a load of whale meat. The flight path followed the coastline of the Bering Sea, traveling over snow-covered terrain adjacent to sea ice. During the flight, weather conditions included low ceilings, fog, and snow showers.
The pilot did not file a flight plan, and no emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected following the accident. The aircraft was not reported overdue. Eventually, passing villagers discovered the wreckage approximately 3/4 mile inland from the coastline. The airplane had collided with terrain and came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The investigation found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction. It was noted that the pilot, who was not a certified aviation mechanic, performed his own maintenance on the aircraft. No official maintenance records for the aircraft could be located.