Alaska

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:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McGrath - Galena

MSN:

6156

YOM:

1942

Location:

McGrath

Country:

Region:

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:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Barrow

MSN:

4636

YOM:

1956

Location:

Barrow

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

23379

Captain / Total hours on type:

3564.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Barrow, the crew failed to realize the configuration was wrong. Few dozen yards short of runway threshold, the airplane struck a snowbank, lost its undercarriage and its left wing before bursting into flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on finale approach. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Snow covered terrain,
- Snow,
- Snow on runway,
- Fire after impact,
- Left main gear, left wing and tail failed prior to fire.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45J Expeditor in Barrow

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1969 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Pan Alaska Airways

Registration:

N437PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Barrow

MSN:

3845

YOM:

1943

Location:

Barrow

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12020

Captain / Total hours on type:

1141.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Barrow, an engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach. The following factors and findings were reported:
- Improper maintenance on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Anti-icing, de-icing system,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Engine icing,
- The crew failed to use or incorrectly used the miscellaneous equipment,
- Ice on propeller,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete engine failure,
- Hot air lines to intake air duct loose.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Alaska: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72611

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Elmendorf – King Salmon

MSN:

10716

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Elmendorf AFB to King Salmon. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1972 in an isolated area.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Sagwon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1969 at 0135 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N2711N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Sagwon

MSN:

YOM:

1967

Location:

Sagwon

Country:

Region: