Background
A flight departed Cold Bay for a scheduled journey to False Pass, with an expected flight time of approximately 15 minutes. The wreckage was later located between two mountains in the vicinity of False Pass.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the flight, there were no weather reporting facilities at False Pass. The weather at Cold Bay was reported as 4,500 feet overcast, with light rain and fog. The forecast for the area indicated frequent ceilings below 1,000 feet. At False Pass, the weather was estimated to be 400 feet overcast, with visibility of 2 to 3 miles in rain and fog, and winds from 25 to 30 knots. A fishing boat captain in the area estimated that winds descending the mountain were 60 miles per hour or greater.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's improper decision to continue flight into an area of mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions. The terrain and weather were cited as contributing factors.