What happened
During a flight traveling from Sitka toward Rowan Bay, Alaska, the pilot attempted to navigate through a mountain pass with an elevation of 2,745 feet MSL. As the aircraft approached the pass, the crew encountered cloud layers that obstructed visibility and prevented further progress through the valley.
In response to the weather conditions, the pilot initiated a 180-degree right turn to reverse course. During this maneuvering phase, while operating in close proximity to the steep mountainside on the western side of the pass, the aircraft entered an inadvertent stall. The plane subsequently struck a terrain slope of approximately 40 degrees. The impact occurred in a steep, nose-down attitude with the wings nearly level. There was one fatality involving the pilot, who was the only person on board the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's decision-making and environmental conditions:
- The pilot performed an inadequate evaluation of the prevailing weather.
- There was a delay in the pilot's in-flight planning and decision-making processes.
- Encountering clouds significantly impacted the ability to navigate the terrain safely.
- The aircraft experienced an inadvertent stall during the course reversal.
- The presence of mountainous terrain contributed to the collision.