What happened
On August 13, 2011, a Cessna 207, registration N91099, crashed into brush-covered, mountainous terrain approximately 37 miles west of McGrath, Alaska. The flight, operated by Inland Aviation Services, was a Part 135 on-demand charter flight transporting a group of school teachers from McGrath Airport to Anvik, Alaska.
While the flight departed under visual meteorological conditions, the area was experiencing low clouds, rain, and fog. A passenger seated in the front right seat reported that about 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted the deteriorating weather. The passenger observed the pilot performing several descents and climbs before the aircraft entered "whiteout conditions." Just before the impact, the mountainside suddenly became visible through the fog.
Of the six people on board, the pilot and one passenger sustained 2 fatal injuries, while four passengers received 4 serious injuries. Following the crash, a family member in Wasilla received an emergency SOS message from a SPOT satellite tracker attached to the pilot's sun visor, which helped alert the operator to the accident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage at an elevation of approximately 1,720 feet msl. The aircraft's wings remained attached to the fuselage, though they showed extensive crushing. The empennage was severed just forward of the stabilizer attach point, and the fuselage and cabin area were crushed inward. The engine remained attached but was displaced 30 degrees to the right. No mechanical malfunctions were identified during the examination of the aircraft components.
An NTSB meteorologist conducted a study of the weather, which revealed two strong low-pressure systems in the region. The study confirmed that the area was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) characterized by low clouds, light rain, drizzle, and fog at the time of the accident. Additionally, a review of archived ADS-B/Capstone data confirmed the flight track and altitude information provided by the passenger.