THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO TRANSPORT 2 SKIERS TO A GLACIER AREA, SO THEY COULD SKI DOWNHILL TO A LOCATION TO WHERE THEY COULD BE PICKED UP. THE PLT LANDED THE WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED ACFT ON UPSLOPING TERRAIN. THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD, EXCEPT A WHITEOUT PHENOMENA WAS PREVALENT IN THE SELECTED LANDING AREA. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT STRUCK AN UNSEEN SNOW DRIFT WHICH BENT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR. THE WHITEOUT GLARCIER WAS SO NAMED BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE PROPENSITY TO INDUCE WHITEOUT ILLUSIONS. NO ELT WAS INSTALLED IN THE ACFT, SO THE 2 PASSENGERS SKIED DOWN THE GLACIER & SUMMONED HELP. HOWEVER, THE WIND BEGAN BLOWING & DELAYED A RESCUE. TWO DAYS LATER, AN AIR FORCE H-3 HELICOPTER CRASHED DOWNHILL FROM N8035D WHILE ATTEMPTING A RECOVERY. LATER, ANOTHER HELICOPTER WAS USED TO RECOVER THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH DOWNED ACFT.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..SNOW COVERED

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..UPHILL

Contributing Factors

MISC EQPT/FURNISHINGS..INADEQUATE

Contributing Factors

LIGHT CONDITION..SUNGLARE

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..WHITEOUT

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..SNOWBANK

Index for Apr1985 | Index of months