What happened
While operating at cruising altitude on a flight destined for Fairbanks, the crew encountered significant mechanical issues involving an engine. These complications prevented the aircraft from maintaining its assigned altitude. In response to the developing situation, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a surface covered in snow.
During the descent and subsequent impact, the aircraft type (unspecified model) struck the ground and slid for several dozen yards. The force of the impact caused the airframe to break into two separate sections. Despite the severity of the structural failure, there were zero fatalities among the three occupants, all of whom remained uninjured following the accident.
Findings
The investigation determined that a loss of power in one engine led to the incident. Several contributing factors were identified, including insufficient preflight preparations and improper management of the powerplant and its controls. The failure was further exacerbated by oil exhaustion within the lubrication system and issues related to inadequate venting.
Environmental and operational factors also played a role. The flight proceeded into adverse weather characterized by low ceilings and fog, which created conditions prone to carburetor icing. Additionally, technical issues such as a plugged lower breather pipe caused oil to escape through the upper pipe. The investigation also noted that idling the engines for an extended period before takeoff led to frozen condensation, contributing to the eventual complete engine failure.