What happened
Two aircraft departed from Seward in close succession to conduct a local flightseeing excursion, following identical intended flight paths. During the mission, the aircraft involved in the accident overtook the second plane after reaching Aialak Bay and began its return leg toward Seward.
As the flight progressed, the crew encountered weather conditions that obscured the peninsula situated between Aialak Bay and Seward. While the cloud bases were situated at 1,200 feet MSL, the aircraft was positioned on the northeast side of a mountain at an altitude of 2,700 feet. The impact occurred in this area, with debris from the aircraft type scattered along a 330° trajectory.
At the time of the accident, the pilot had recently transitioned into flight duties, having been employed as a fueler and ground handler for less than two months. The pilot had received authorization to conduct Part 135 flightseeing operations only two days prior to the event.
Findings
- The flight path was obstructed by cloud cover obscuring the peninsula between the bay and the departure point.
- The aircraft was operating at 2,700 feet MSL while cloud bases were at 1,200 feet MSL.