What happened
During a flight from Cordova, Alaska, to Anchorage, Alaska, Pacific Northern Flight 201 drifted away from its designated flight path. While operating at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft struck the steep face of Mt. Gilbert. The mountain stands at an elevation of 9,646 feet and was located roughly 28 nautical miles to the right of the flight's initial intended checkpoint.
The impact resulted in a total of 14 fatalities, comprising all nine passengers and five crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crew did not utilize every available navigational aid to confirm the aircraft's position along the Amber I Airway. This lack of positional verification led to the deviation from the intended course into dangerous terrain. Additionally, a failure in the Air Defense Radar system contributed to the disaster, as the radar failed to alert the crew or the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that the flight was moving toward a hazardous trajectory.