Accident Summary
An airline transport certificated pilot was operating a float-equipped airplane on a Title 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight with three passengers. The aircraft struck terrain in a mountain pass.
Flight History
Upon arriving in the area of the pass, the pilot observed weather conditions at his location: few clouds at 3,000 feet and visibility of seven miles. The weather on the opposite side of the pass included a ceiling of 2,000 feet and visibility of two miles. The pass was approximately 2.3 miles long, and the pilot had flown through it numerous times.
Noticing haze along the right side of the pass, the pilot chose to fly along the left side at about 1,400 feet mean sea level. He was maintaining visual contact with the ground. However, after looking up, his forward view became completely white. He initiated a right turn to reverse course. During this maneuver, the airplane's floats collided with up sloping terrain on the left side of the pass.