What happened
During a mission to transport caribou hunters to a specific area where game had been sighted earlier that day, an aircraft struck a mountain slope. The impact occurred at an elevation of 2,200 feet, roughly three miles short of the intended destination, which was a remote lake. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft by fire.
There were four fatalities among the occupants of the plane. No injuries were reported as all individuals on board perished in the accident.
Findings
An investigation of the wreckage was conducted to determine if any technical issues contributed to the crash. The inspection found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or equipment failure prior to the impact.
Investigators identified several contributing factors related to the operation of the flight:
- The terrain involved was mountainous and hilly.
- There were errors in the in-flight planning and decision-making processes by the pilot in command.
- The pilot failed to maintain a proper altitude during the maneuvering phase of the flight, leading to the collision with the terrain.