Alaska

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl

Schedule:

McChord – Anchorage – Yokota – Cam Ranh Bay

MSN:

46060/472

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

CL3/26

Location:

Country:

Region:

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

219

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14650

Captain / Total hours on type:

5740.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

13500

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2057

Aircraft flight hours:

4944

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a charter flight from McChord AFB to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, with intermediate stops in Anchorage and Yokota, carrying 219 military personnels and 10 crew members. During the takeoff roll on runway 06R at Anchorage-Intl Airport, the airplane failed to gain sufficient speed and to get airborne. After V1 speed, the crew decided to abort the takeoff procedure but the airplane overran, struck a wooden barrier, an ILS structure, a 12-foot deep drainage ditch and came to rest in flames. A crew member and 46 passengers were killed while 182 other occupants were evacuated, 163 of them were wounded. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The failure of the aircraft to attain the necessary airspeed to effect lift-off during the attempted takeoff. The lack of acceleration, undetected by the crew until after the aircraft reached V1 speed, was the result of a high frictional drag which was caused by a failure of all main landing gear wheels to rotate. Although it was determined that a braking pressure sufficient to lock all of the wheels was imparted to the brake system, the source of this pressure could not be determined. Possible sources of the unwanted braking pressure were either a hydraulic/brake system malfunction or an inadvertently engaged parking brake.

Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 near Bettles

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1970 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Pan Alaska Airways

Registration:

N123PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Prospect Creek - Dietrich Camp

MSN:

1861

YOM:

1969

Location:

Bettles

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9495

Captain / Total hours on type:

304.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet , the right engine failed. The crew feathered its propeller when the left engine lost power. The crew reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed near an icy river. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight and partial loss of power on left engine caused by fuel contamination. The following factors were reported:
- Improperly serviced aircraft by owner-pilot,
- Fuel contamination-exclusive of water in fuel,
- Water in fuel,
- Failure of right engine in flight, propeller feathered,
- Left engine lost power,
- Sediment found in fuel storage tanks.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon on Sitkinak Island

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1970 at 1155 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N91117

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sitkinak Island - Kodiak

Location:

Sitkinak Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1360

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from Sitkinak Island Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed at the edge of the runway. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed and failed to follow the approved procedures. The following factors were reported:
- Unfavorable winds conditions,
- Pilot attempted max performance takeoff in Robertson STOL aircraft,
- Quartering crosswind at 20 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Anchorage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1970 at 1446 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

N47

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Anchorage - Anchorage

MSN:

16407/33155

YOM:

1945

Location:

Anchorage-Merrill Field

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10401

Captain / Total hours on type:

5000.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training flight. After takeoff from runway 24, while in initiale climb, the airplane suffered two consecutive stalls then banked left and right. It lost height and crashed in a huge explosion, killing both pilots.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to obtain/maintain flying speed and inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command. When control was lost, gear was down, flaps were 3/4 down and the rudder trim was positioned full left. The aircraft was observed entering three stalls, two stalls normal recovery.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II on Mt Pavlof: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

52-1049

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

McChord - Cold Bay

MSN:

43958

YOM:

1952

Location:

Mt Pavlof

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

In limited visibility, the crew started the descent to Cold Bay when the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Pavlof Volcano located 36 miles northeast of Cold Bay. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed. The airplane was inbound from McChord AFB, carrying seven tons of satellite observation equipment for use with the Optical Satellite Observing System. It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in McGrath: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1970 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N154R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McGrath - Galena

MSN:

6156

YOM:

1942

Location:

McGrath

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11700

Captain / Total hours on type:

390.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff at McGrath Airport, the airplane went out of control, collided with trees and crashed in flames. A crew member and four passengers were killed while several others were seriously injured. The aircraft was engaged in a fire control activity between McGrath and Galena when the accident occurred.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by a diverted attention from operation of aircraft. Collision with high obstructions and fire after impact. It was reported that the pilote rotated at V2 speed and then reduced power when the copilot raised the landing gear. It was observed that the right main gear was still on the ground when retracted, causing the propeller to struck the runway surface.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in False Pass

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1970 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

N1513V

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cold Bay - False Pass

MSN:

B103

YOM:

1944

Location:

False Pass

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3800

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

Upon landing on water at False Pass, the seaplane probably hit a submerged object, nosed down and came to rest in water. All four occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane sank by 110 feet deep.

Probable cause:

Aircraft came to rest in water. May have hit submerged object.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Prudhoe Bay

Date & Time: May 21, 1970 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Club Aire

Registration:

N75430

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pingo – Fairbanks

MSN:

4490

YOM:

1942

Location:

Prudhoe Bay

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8430

Captain / Total hours on type:

220.00

Circumstances:

En route to Fairbanks, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and was unable to maintain de prescribed altitude. He decided to perform an emergency landing in a snow covered ground when the airplane crash landed, slid for dozen yards and came to rest, broken in two. All three occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper/inadequate venting,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Initiated flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor icing,
- Complete engine failure on one engine,
- Idled engines too long prior to takeoff, condensation froze,
- Plugged lower breather pipe, oil went out top pipe.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Barrow

Date & Time: May 5, 1970 at 0340 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

North Slope Supply Company

Registration:

N174W

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Barrow

MSN:

4636

YOM:

1956

Location:

Barrow

Country:

Region: