Dillingham – Stony River – Anchorage

On February 27, 1978 at 01:25 PM, Dillingham – Stony River – Anchorage experienced a crash involving Evangel 4500, operated by Yute Air Alaska, with the event recorded near Merrill Pass Alaska.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Merrill Pass. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed. The wreckage was located a day later.

Aircraft reference details include registration N4508L, MSN 8, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 61.1956°, -153.3199°.