Accident Details
Five aircraft departed from a lodge in succession. The pilots encountered fog and drizzle. The pilot of the first aircraft radioed the others to cross the river to the east shoreline. A passenger aboard the fourth aircraft, a floatplane registered as N13GA, reported that when the aircraft was over the middle of the river, she could not see either shore due to fog.
Pilot's Account
The pilot of N13GA stated that he encountered deteriorating weather and initiated a descent with the intention of making a precautionary landing. He began to level the aircraft, expecting conditions to improve. Subsequently, the floatplane struck the surface of the river, described as 'glassy water', and crashed.
Occupants and Damage
Seven passengers were killed, and four other occupants sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his failure to maintain altitude (clearance) above the surface of the river. Contributing factors included the adverse weather conditions and the glassy surface condition of the river.