What happened
A commercial flight operating an amphibious float-equipped airplane failed to reach its destination at a remote lodge, prompting an investigation into its disappearance. The flight was part of an on-demand air taxi service, and the aircraft was the second of two company planes scheduled to transit the northern end of a large island, moving from the west to the east side. While the first aircraft completed its journey successfully, the second aircraft was reported overdue after failing to arrive at the lodge.
Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained multiple weather briefings from a local FAA flight service station, which included information regarding an AIRMET for mountain obscuration. The pilot also received two reports from the pilot of the preceding flight and visited the flight service station for an additional briefing. At the time of the flight, the area was experiencing challenging weather, with reported visibilities as low as 2 miles and ceilings dropping to 200 feet due to mist and rain, accompanied by winds between 35 and 40 knots.
The aircraft and its five occupants are currently presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. The search area is characterized by steep mountains, complex coastlines, and numerous ocean channels. The region is known for frequent low ceilings and reduced visibility.
Findings
The area of operations is noted for having limited weather reporting capabilities, intermittent radio communications, and a lack of low-level radar coverage. The geography consists of several barrier islands situated between the mainland Alaska and the north Pacific Ocean. The western coast of the island is exposed to the open ocean, while the eastern side borders a wide strait. The accident occurred amidst adverse weather conditions including low visibility and high winds.