What happened
During a repositioning flight from Togiak to Dillingham, an aircraft struck a mountain slope while navigating through a valley. The accident occurred shortly after the plane had departed Togiak. While attempting to execute a climbing turn, the pilot encountered heavy fog within the terrain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.
The crash resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot, and one passenger. Additionally, seven people sustained injuries during the event.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain. The primary factor was the decision to continue operating under visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering deteriorating weather conditions. Contributing environmental factors included:
- Reduced visibility due to fog
- Low cloud ceilings