Background
The accident airplane was one of two airplanes transporting guests to a fishing lodge. The commercial certificated pilot, who owned the lodge, departed a remote beach area with three passengers to return to the lodge. The beach was located along a coast on the south side of low mountains. The pilots of both airplanes discussed several routes to the lodge, located on the north side of the mountains. All routes required traversing mountain passes of various elevations. A scattered layer of low clouds partially obscured several mountain tops. The two pilots verbally agreed to take a longer flight path through a pass that traversed lower terrain.
Flight
After departure, the pilot of the second airplane initially led the flight. The pilot of the first airplane then reported that the most direct route appeared open and elected to proceed toward that pass. The second airplane followed about one-third mile behind and remained in radio contact. Both airplanes climbed to 3,000 feet msl heading for the pass. The second pilot stated that 3,000 feet was the minimum altitude normally used to cross that pass. As they proceeded northbound, the second pilot observed a solid layer of low clouds obscuring the pass and began to lose sight of the first airplane in clouds. He lost sight of the first airplane and initiated a 180-degree turn toward lower terrain. The first pilot radioed that the second pilot might want to turn around; the second pilot replied that he was already turning and asked if the first pilot was turning around. The first pilot responded, "well, I'm kind of committed now." This was the last radio contact with the first pilot.
Aftermath
The second pilot proceeded over lower terrain to the lodge, where the first airplane was not found. He departed again to search. Near the mountains, ceilings were about 900 feet overcast. The second pilot heard an ELT signal near a creek drainage but could only approach within about 5 miles of the pass. The accident airplane was reported overdue, but due to low clouds, a search helicopter could not reach the pass area. The wreckage was spotted the following day. Two passengers in the rear seats were transported to medical facilities; one passenger died before reaching a hospital.