Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed on the side of a mountain at an elevation of 2,200 feet approximately 3 miles from its intended destination, a remote lake. The purpose of the flight was to discharge caribou hunters into an area where caribou were spotted early that day. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. All four occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Inspection of the wreckage failed to reveal a mechanical failure or malfunction. The official investigation identified the occurrence as an in-flight collision with terrain during the maneuvering phase of operation. Three findings were noted: (1) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly; (2) in-flight planning/decision - poor, attributed to the pilot in command; (3) proper altitude - not maintained, also attributed to the pilot in command.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was an in-flight collision with terrain during maneuvering. Contributing factors included mountainous/hilly terrain, poor in-flight planning/decision by the pilot in command, and the pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude.