What happened
During a commercial visual flight rules (VFR) operation, a pilot was transporting 10 passengers from a remote fishing lodge. While cruising at approximately 1,100 feet mean sea level through a mountain pass, the flight encountered rapidly decreasing visibility. In an effort to reverse course and return to VFR conditions, the pilot began a climbing right turn. During this maneuver, the pilot experienced momentary disorientation after mistaking a feature for a body of water and leveled the wings. Upon realizing the aircraft was approaching snow-covered mountains, the pilot applied full power to initiate a steep climb. However, the airspeed decreased, leading the aircraft to strike rising, rocky terrain. The impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported in the crash.
Findings
Investigation into the accident revealed that the flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while navigating mountainous terrain. The pilot lost situational awareness during the transition from VFR to IMC. Although the aircraft was equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), the system's alerts were inhibited at the time of the collision. It was noted that a company practice existed where the TAWS inhibit switch was left in the off position, and the pilot failed to activate the system as weather conditions worsened.
Furthermore, the investigation identified significant organizational issues within the operator. The company's Director of Operations held positions at multiple carriers, leading to insufficient on-site management and a lack of oversight. Inadequate operational control procedures were also present, with authority being routinely delegated to unapproved personnel. These management deficiencies and the lack of effective oversight likely contributed to the environment that allowed the flight to proceed into deteriorating weather.