What happened
A private certificated pilot departed from a remote airport to conduct a VFR cross-country flight. While navigating along the north side of the Yukon River, the pilot elected to cross to the south side of the river to avoid potential collisions with aircraft approaching from the opposite direction.
At the time of the incident, weather conditions in the area were characterized by low ceilings and snow showers, with reported visibility of less than 1/4 mile. The frozen river being crossed was approximately one mile wide. During the execution of a turn, the pilot encountered a whiteout condition. This resulted in the loss of visual contact with the snow-covered terrain, leading to a collision with the ground at a shallow angle. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine, wings, and fuselage.