What happened
During a flight traveling from Dietrich toward Chandalar, the pilot encountered significant meteorological challenges, including fog and low cloud ceilings. While navigating through mountainous terrain, the pilot attempted a turn, at which point the single-engine airplane collided with a mountain peak. The wreckage was located several hours after the impact. There were four fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the crash. The primary factor was the decision to continue flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite the presence of deteriorating weather. Specifically, the following factors were noted:
- Operating in low visibility caused by fog and low ceilings
- Presence of high obstructions within the flight path
- An attempt to navigate through a mountain pass that was obscured by clouds
- Issues related to company dispatch procedures