What happened
An aircraft disappeared while performing an IFR flight from Yakutat, Alaska, to Anchorage, Alaska. The flight was operating under instrument meteorological conditions at the time of the disappearance. The last confirmed radio contact occurred when the pilot reported that the aircraft had reached its assigned altitude of 12,000 feet msl.
Following the loss of contact, investigations were conducted into the final communications. While the FAA identified a specific point as the final transmission, the spouse of the pilot claimed to have heard additional audio on the air traffic control tapes. This alleged audio included the pilot mentioning "6,000" and "icing conditions." However, an enhanced examination of the recordings performed by the FBI laboratory was unable to verify the existence of these additional statements.
Findings
At this stage of the investigation, the exact circumstances of the disappearance remain unconfirmed. Due to the lack of further radio contact and the nature of the flight, aircraft damage and occupant injuries are presumed.