Accident Overview
An aircraft en route from Juneau to Anchorage experienced engine problems while cruising in marginal weather conditions. The pilot reported the issue before contact was lost. The aircraft subsequently entered a spin and crashed into the ocean off Yakutat. Few debris and two bodies were recovered from the site, and the aircraft sank and was not recovered.
Weather Conditions
According to the investigation, weather conditions at the time included icing conditions with sleet and freezing rain. The ceiling was reported at 1,200 feet. The weather was slightly worse than forecast.
Engine Failure Details
The pilot reported securing engine number two before losing contact. The investigation found that a partial loss of power occurred on one engine, followed by a complete failure of that engine. The powerplant failure occurred for undetermined reasons.
Findings
The official probable cause states that due to a lack of evidence, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. Additional findings include: powerplant failure for undetermined reasons, icing conditions (sleet and freezing rain), partial loss of power on one engine, complete failure of one engine, weather slightly worse than forecast, ceiling 1,200 feet, pilot reported securing engine number two, passengers recovered from the bay, and aircraft damage and injury index presumed.