Synopsis
An accident occurred when a pilot attempted to reverse course during a flight in mountainous terrain. The aircraft stalled during a steep turn, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
Flight Details
The destination camp was located approximately 50 miles southwest of the departure lodge, separated by mountains with peaks exceeding 4,000 feet above sea level. The general area had low ceilings. The operator stated that shortly before the accident, he observed the weather at Youth Creek as 'better than 400 feet' and told the pilot that it appeared good enough to make the flight.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that as he flew up Youth Creek, he could see that the mountain pass ahead was closed by low clouds and attempted to reverse direction. He stated that he made a hard steep turn, and the airplane stalled. The pilot described the weather at the time as having a ceiling of about 800 feet and visibility of 1 mile.
Injuries and Medical
Five passengers were killed in the accident. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. The surviving passenger died from his injuries one day later. Upon admission to the hospital immediately following the accident, the pilot was diagnosed with an insulin-dependent diabetic condition. His medical records contained no evidence of a pre-accident diabetic condition, and the pilot denied any prior knowledge of it.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause stated: "The pilot's delayed decision in reversing course and his failure to maintain airspeed during the maneuver. Factors related to the accident were: mountainous terrain and a low ceiling."