Alaska plane crash investigators said the 72-year-old pilot of a charter flight with 10 passengers on board struck a mountain because in deteriorating weather conditions he initially confused the snow-covered slopes with a body of water. The plane had float skis.
In a preliminary report released on Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the pilot initiated a steep, emergency climb but the float-equipped de Havilland Otter aircraft struck rising terrain.
The pilot and passengers all survived the July 10 crash of the Taquan Air flight on Prince of Wales Island. Six people suffered serious injuries.
The report described the deteriorating weather conditions before the crash of the plane bound for Ketchikan from a lodge.
The pilot told an investigator that visibility decreased rapidly from about 3 to 5 miles to nothing.
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