Accident Overview
A single-engine cargo aircraft, operating on a flight from Bethel to Tununak, crashed while cruising in poor weather conditions characterized by whiteout. The aircraft struck the ground, resulting in the death of the pilot, who was the sole occupant on board.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted as a cargo operation. During the cruise phase of flight, the aircraft encountered adverse weather, specifically whiteout conditions, which reduced visibility.
Official Findings
According to the accident investigation, the probable cause was controlled flight into terrain during normal cruise after the pilot continued visual flight rules (VFR) flight into adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors reported include snow, whiteout conditions, the filing of a VFR flight plan, and reports from other aircraft in the area at the same time indicating poor visibility due to snow squalls.
Final Remarks
The investigation did not provide additional details regarding the aircraft type, registration, engine count, or exact time of day. The sequence of events remains as described in the official report.