20070930022269A

(-23) At approximately 1720 Alaska daylight time, N295BA a Helio H-295, collided with trees and tundra about 40 miles northeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The aircraft suffered substantial damage from the impact. The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules 14 CFR part 91 and had flight following by the owner operator branham adventures of anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and all three passengers, one lodge fishing guide and two fishing clients, were fatally injured. The aircraft was en route from a remote lake to the royal wolf lodge, when the accident occurred. About 1715, the accident pilot radioed lodge personnel that he was en route to the lodge, with an estimated arrival time of about 3 minutes. When the airplane failed to arrive by 1730, lodge personnel attempted to contact the accident airplane via radio. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected. At 1745, the lodge owner initiated an aerial search along the pilot's anticipated route. The airplane's wreckage was discovered about 10 miles from the lodge. All of the airplane's major components were located at the main wreckage site. Prior to ground impact, the airplane collided with trees about 15 feet tall. The initial crash path was marked by broken treetops on a magneto heading of approximately 240 degrees, with an estimated descent path of 45 degrees. This accident will be further evaluated at the time the aircraft is recovered from the site, this report will be revised as needed.