What happened
A flight traveling from Cold Bay toward False Pass, Alaska, resulted in an accident during the approximately 15-minute transit. At the time of departure from Cold Bay, meteorological conditions included light rain, fog, and an overcast ceiling of 4,500 feet, with forecasts predicting frequent ceilings dropping below 1,000 feet.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the destination, weather conditions were significantly more severe. Estimates for the False Pass area indicated an overcast ceiling of only 400 feet, with visibility reduced to 2-3 miles due to rain and fog. Winds in the area were recorded at 25-30 knots. The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered situated between two mountains.
Findings
Local observations from a nearby fishing boat captain suggested that extreme wind gusts were present, with winds descending the mountain estimated at speeds of 60 mph or greater. The lack of weather reporting infrastructure at False Pass may have impacted the crew's awareness of the deteriorating conditions.