Country
United States of America
code

AK

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 in Lupine: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1974 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Winship Air Services
Registration:
N357V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Lupine
MSN:
AF-680
YOM:
1954
Location:
Lupine
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
11197
Captain / Total hours on type:
191.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Lupine Airstrip, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and snow falls. On final, he decided to make a low pass and reduced his altitude when the airplane stalled and crashed. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling, fog and snow falls,
- Icing conditions,
- Weather was given via radio by oil company radio operator,
- Over max takeoff and landing weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Anaktuvuk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1974 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Merric Aviation
Registration:
N7620
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dietrich - Chandalar - Happy Valley
MSN:
1574
YOM:
1964
Location:
Anaktuvuk Pass
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1862
Captain / Total hours on type:
235.00
Circumstances:
En route from Dietrich to Chandalar, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and fog. While flying over mountainous terrain, the pilot initiated a turn when the single engine airplane struck a mountain and crashed. The wreckage was found few hours later and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Company dispatch,
- Tried to fly thru obscured mountain pass.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Cordova: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1974 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 414 Chancellor
Operator:
Registration:
N1171L
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kenai - Cordova
MSN:
414-0062
YOM:
1970
Location:
Cordova
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3792
Captain / Total hours on type:
90.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Cordova Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Descended into mountain on approach after the pilot failed to follow the approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Low ceiling,
- High obstructions,
- Failed to execute published instrument approach.
Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy 101 in Point Hope

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1974 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
N894U
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Galena - Point Hope
MSN:
6658
YOM:
1961
Location:
Point Hope
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
477.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Point Hope Airport, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid on the ground, veered off runway and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear collapsed upon landing due to fatigue fracture and stress corrosion cracking.
Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy 101 in Anchorage

Date & Time: May 19, 1974 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
N891U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Aniak
MSN:
6655
YOM:
1959
Location:
Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9703
Captain / Total hours on type:
2039.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 20 at Anchorage-Intl Airport, the pilot-in-command realized the takeoff was not possible so he decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, rolled for 689 yards then collided with trees and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Aborted takeoff and overran following poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- Gust locks engaged,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Elevator gust lock not removed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-1 Skyservant in Elim

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1974 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.28D Skyservant
Operator:
Registration:
N3799
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nome - Elim
MSN:
4005
YOM:
1968
Location:
Elim
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4745
Captain / Total hours on type:
53.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Elim Airstrip, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with a snow bank and a snow removal machine. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Overrun and collision with snowbank after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain and failed to initiate a go-around. The following factors was reported:
- Ice/slush on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R6D-1 on Great Sitkin Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
131615
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Elmendorf - Adak
MSN:
43718/371
YOM:
1953
Location:
Great Sitkin Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was on its way from Whidbey Island NAS to Adak with an intermediate stop at Elmendorf AFB. The goal of the flight was to repatriate Navy personnel back to Whidbey Island for the Christmas period. Following an uneventful flight from Anchorage, while cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet in limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a volcano located on the Great Sitkin Island, about 25 miles northeast of Adak Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Galena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1973 at 1135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Fort Wainwright Air
Registration:
N12317
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Gulkana - Galena - Nome
MSN:
560-243
YOM:
1955
Location:
Galena
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2600
Captain / Total hours on type:
6.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Fairbanks to Nome with intermediate stops in Gulkana and Galena. On approach to Galena, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and snow falls reducing the visibility to 1,000 feet. On final under VFR mode, he was unable to locate the runway when he realized he was facing the tower. He initiated a turn to avoid collision when he lost control of the airplane that crashed near the runway. All five passengers were seriously injured while the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling, fog and snow,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- No weather briefing received,
- Low level VFR approach to IFR airport,
- Turned to avoid tower and stalled,
- Passengers obtained a partial weather briefing,
- Over maximum gross weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Kodiak

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1973 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
N176MS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kodiak - Afognak Lake
MSN:
1324
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kodiak
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1690
Captain / Total hours on type:
45.00
Circumstances:
The pilot attempted to takeoff from Kodiak in a limited visibility due to fog. At mid-runway, he realized that another pilot entered the runway so he pulled on the control column to rotate. The twin engine airplane lifted off but due to an insufficient speed, it stalled and crashed in a lake past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the visibility was very poor due to fog.
Probable cause:
The pilot made an evasive maneuver to avoid collision. The following factors were reported:
- Airport conditions: hidden hazard,
- Premature liftoff,
- Failed to obtain flying speed,
- Pilot off other aircraft,
- Vision obstructed by 80 feet rise in elevation at mid-runway,
- Unable to see taxiing aircraft on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63CF on Mt Dutton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1973 at 0542 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
N802WA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Travis - Cold Bay - Yokota - Clark
MSN:
46146/536
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
WO802
Location:
Mt Dutton
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
22913
Captain / Total hours on type:
1969.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4984
Copilot / Total hours on type:
457
Aircraft flight hours:
10077
Circumstances:
On behalf of the USAF, the four engine airplane departed Travis AFB on a cargo flight to Clark AFB, Philippines, with intermediate stops in Cold Bay and Yokota AFB. While approaching Cold Bay by night at an altitude of 3,500 feet, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Dutton (4,941 feet high) located 18 miles east of Cold Bay Airport. At impact, the aircraft's speed was 185 knots and it was heading 275°. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 12°.
Probable cause:
The captain's deviation from approved instrument approach procedures. As a result of the deviation the flight descended into an area of unreliable navigation signals and obstructing terrain.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Alaska