What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Airman operated aircraft on part 91 sight-seeing flight in mountainous terrain with three souls on board. Pilot reports that due to limited contrast and flat light conditions, he did not observe the rising terrain until it was too late to turn around. While attempting to reverse course the aircraft impacted the glacier at approximately 8000' MSL. No mechanical irregularities were observed or reported.
As the FAA filed it
AIRMAN OPERATED AIRCRAFT ON PART 91 SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH THREE SOULS ON BOARD. PILOT REPORTS THAT DUE TO LIMITED CONTRAST AND FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS, HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE RISING TERRAIN UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO TURN AROUND. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE COURSE THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GLACIER AT APPROXIMATELY 8000' MSL. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WERE OBSERVED OR REPORTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.