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Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Hooper Bay

Date & Time: May 16, 1982 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N103AQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel - Chevak - Scammon Bay - Hooper Bay
MSN:
183
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
GFF517
Location:
Hooper Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4550
Captain / Total hours on type:
1990.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1850
Copilot / Total hours on type:
300
Aircraft flight hours:
15267
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Hooper Bay, Alaska. The airplane crashed 1,320 feet short of the threshold of runway 13 during an approach in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed onto hard-packed snow and ice about 700 feet from the edge of the Bering Sea. There was no fire. The two pilots and six passengers sustained serious injuries in the accident.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Beard determines that the probable cause of this accident was the flightcrew's failure to compute and properly interpret the airplane's weight and balance and their operation of the airplane with the center of gravity substantially aft of its authorized limit which resulted in loss of control of the airplane during a landing attempt.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar in Dahl Creek

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1981 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
N8504W
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Dahl Creek
MSN:
256
YOM:
1953
Location:
Dahl Creek
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Dahl Creek, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear locking mechanism upon landing due to overload failure and the gear shear pin failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 in Slate Creek

Date & Time: May 15, 1981 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
N70DA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicken - Slate Creek
MSN:
SH.1848
YOM:
1968
Location:
Slate Creek
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3132
Captain / Total hours on type:
735.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Slave Creek Airport, the twin engine airplane landed hard and bounced. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Hard landing, gear collapsed and subsequent crash caused by an improper level off on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- Overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar in King Salmon

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1980 at 1208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
N90268
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenai - King Salmon
MSN:
11219
YOM:
1953
Location:
King Salmon
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3568
Captain / Total hours on type:
37.00
Circumstances:
On landing at King Salmon Airport, the left engine fire warning sounded. In the meantime, an explosion occurred in the left wing tip. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fire observed in the left engine nacelle area and the left wing tip exploded for reasons that could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar off Big Creek

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
N90269
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Big Creek – King Salmon
MSN:
230
YOM:
1952
Location:
Big Creek
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the Bering Sea shortly after takeoff from a sand beach at Big Creek. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.
Here is the testimony from Jim Larison who was on board to make a documentary for PBS at the time of the accident:
The C-119 aircraft was attempting to take off, but the aircraft could not make lift off speed in time to avoid having to turn right along the beach. As the pilot attempted to turn right we began sliding sideways. The farther right we turned the more the wind became a factor. The aircraft could not gain sufficient airspeed but the speed was great enough that we were light on our wheels so could not make the turn either. Centrifugal force drove us sideways toward the sea. The pilots straightened it up and tried to lift off but we did not have sufficient airspeed to make it into the air. We went out into the Bering Sea perhaps a quarter mile before stalling. The aircraft crashed into the sea and was torn to pieces. The cockpit ended up underneath the fuselage under about 10 feet of water. I was trapped in the wreckage under the fuselage. The pilot came back into the aircraft and freed me from the wreckage. There was no fire. There were five people on board. Luckily no fatalities but survivors were airlifted to Anchorage for medical care. Aircraft was eventually pulled out of the sea and now rests at the mouth of Big Creek in a sand dune.
Photos James 'Jim' Larson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose near Port Moller

Date & Time: May 12, 1978 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
N1042
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Moller - Cold Bay
MSN:
B043
YOM:
1943
Location:
Port Moller
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2855
Captain / Total hours on type:
54.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from a lake located near Port Moller, the left wing float stayed in water, causing the seaplane to plunged into water. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Dragged wingtip during takeoff run due to improper operation of brakes and/or flight controls. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Lagoon-open water,
- 33 hours PIC in type.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 in Toksook Bay

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1977 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
N64AC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel -Toksook Bay
MSN:
1849
YOM:
1968
Location:
Toksook Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3800
Captain / Total hours on type:
1605.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Toksook Bay Airport, the crew encountered whiteout conditions with fog and snow falls. While descending under VFR mode, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a snow covered area located short of runway. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on approach after the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude,
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Whiteout conditions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility less than two miles,
- Weather reports not available for Toksook Bay,
- Wind gusting 20 knots.
Final Report:
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