What happened
On September 26, 1985, an aircraft struck mountainous terrain within a pass at an elevation of 3,600 feet MSL. Earlier that day, at 1329 GMT, the pilot had received a weather briefing indicating that Merrill Pass was expected to be closed by 1100 ADT due to worsening meteorological conditions.
The final radio contact with the aircraft occurred at 1803 GMT via McGrath FSS. During this transmission, the pilot reported marginal flying conditions at Merrill Pass, noting that visibility had dropped to 2 miles amidst snow and intermittent moderate turbulence. The wreckage was not discovered until September 29, 1985. Analysis of the debris field showed that the aircraft struck the ground while maintaining a relatively level attitude and significant airspeed. The accident resulted in three fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's decision-making and the environmental conditions. Key findings include:
- The pilot elected to continue flight into known adverse weather conditions, including snow and turbulence.
- There was improper in-flight planning and a failure to follow established procedures by the pilot in command.
- The aircraft failed to maintain sufficient altitude while maneuvering through mountainous terrain.