ANC83LA173

Factual narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RIDGELINE WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH A PASS. THE PASS WAS CRESTED AT ABOUT 3600 FTSURROUNDED BY ELEVATIONS OF OVER 8000 FT MSL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET THROUGH MERRILL PASS BECAUSE OF HUNTERS THAT HAD BEEN STRANDED AT TUNDRA LAKE. THE PILOT SAID HE LEFT FOOD FOR THEM AND WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE AIR TAXI OPERATOR WHO HAD BROUGHT THE HUNTERS THERE AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE RETURNED FOR THEM. AS THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT REACHED MERRILL PASS HE SAID THE FOG ROLLED IN FAST AND A DOWNDRAFT PREVENTED HIM FROM CRESTING THE TOP. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12