What happened
The aircraft was operating a scheduled seaplane service based out of Patricia Bay. During the leg from Yakutat to Anchorage, the crew encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. The pilot transitioned to instrument flight rules while attempting to locate the coastline but inadvertently found the aircraft positioned over landmass rather than water.
Upon realizing the error, the pilot initiated a steep 50-degree turn intended to return to the sea. However, visual contact with tree tops close below prompted an immediate abort of the maneuver. The pilot advanced the throttles and raised the nose to arrest the descent. Despite these corrective actions, the hull struck the upper branches of the trees. The aircraft subsequently descended into a dense forested area in the vicinity of Yakataga.
The impact resulted in the immediate death of one crew member. Six other individuals on board sustained injuries. A second crew member succumbed to their wounds several days later following the accident.