Accident Overview
A single-engine airplane en route from Anchorage to Whittier crashed into a river bed after the pilot flew into a canyon amid worsening weather. The aircraft lost altitude and impacted the river bed. All six people on board died.
Flight Details
The flight originated in Anchorage with a destination of Whittier. During the journey, weather conditions deteriorated as the pilot navigated into a canyon. The airplane subsequently lost height and came to rest in a river bed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be loss of control after the pilot continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors included improper in-flight decisions, sudden windshift, downdrafts and updrafts, flight into a blind canyon, the aircraft coming to rest in water, the airplane being float-equipped, and the absence of an antenna for the emergency locator transmitter.