What happened
A flight traveling from the vicinity of Becharof Lake toward its destination of Cold Bay struck a mountainside at an elevation of 7,500 feet. The impact occurred approximately 23 miles to the left of the intended course during the cruise phase of flight. At the time of the accident, which took place during sunset, the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft. Prior to this flight, the pilot had completed the same route roughly one hour earlier. A VFR flight plan had been filed with the company for the mission.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing environmental and operational factors. The weather conditions were marginal, characterized by snow, obscuration, and a significant 35-knot right crosswind. The official findings indicate that the pilot continued VFR flight into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions). Additional contributing elements included inadequate compensation for wind conditions, poor in-flight decision-making, and the challenges posed by mountainous terrain and low light levels during the transition to darkness.