What happened
Following a weather briefing, the pilot initiated an IFR flight from Sitka to Anchorage, Alaska. During the initial climb from runway 11, the pilot reported to a flight service station that the aircraft had encountered cloud bases at 700 feet MSL. While executing a left turn during the departure phase, the aircraft struck trees on Mt. Verstovia at an elevation of 1,420 feet, located roughly 3 miles east of the Sitka airport.
Post-accident investigation at the site showed the aircraft impacted forested terrain while maintaining a heading of 359°. Evidence at the scene included propeller-related damage to tree limbs, and the debris field was distributed across a 516-foot area. There were no specific casualty counts provided in the report.
Findings
Investigators noted that a standard instrument departure, specifically the Sitka 5 SID, was an available procedure at the time. This departure route would have directed the aircraft on a right-hand turn from runway 11 toward an initial climb heading of 280°, which would have provided necessary terrain clearance.