Mars,
That being said............................
It is one thing to know that you have an issue with the aircraft.
It is something else to be able to actually do something about it.
In this case it was dark and possibly snowing with 1.5 mile vis.
Having worked in remote areas you need to realise the risks and ask yourself and/or be aware of the capabilities of services available to you.
In the old days of "full reporting" in Australia it used to be 30 minutes scheduled calls and/or 60 miles.
On one contract we had to make 3 different calls over 3 different HF frequencies to Flight Service the closest of which was 350 miles away.
The question was always asked as to exactly what type of response there would be. The answer was "slightly better than nothing". Even in this case what resources where available to respond when it is -
a) Dark
b) Snowing
c) in marshy tundra
Check out the position of Iliamna on Google Earth.
Would better "flight following" have changed the outcome? I doubt it.