Alaska

Flight 60 originated at Sitka, Alaska, with stops scheduled at Pelican City, Hoonah, and Juneau, the destination. Before departure from Sitka, the dispatcher in Juneau issued clearance for the flight to proceed DVFR (Defense Visual Flight Rules) to Hoonah and wait, if necessary, at that station for weather to improve in the Juneau area. The flight plan indicated estimated time from Sitka to Juneau, including stops, would be two hours and fifty minutes. Fuel consumption was estimated at 60 gallons, with 20 gallons re-serve upon arrival at Juneau. Gross weight of all disposable load at takeoff was 1,401 pounds, 30 less than the maximum allowable. The flight departed Sitka at 1153 with Captain James C. Rinehart (pilot), four passengers, cargo, mail, and baggage. The route between Sitka and Pelican City follows the North Pacific shore. The flight landed at Pelican City at 1235. Two passengers deplaned and 88 pounds of baggage, mail, and cargo were taken off; 159 pounds of cargo were added. The aircraft was not refueled. The pilot reported by radio that the flight departed Pelican City at 1305 en route to Hoonah. This was the last radio contact. When the flight became overdue at Hoonah, search operations were instituted. The Coast Guard was notified at 1655 and began search. At approximately 0800 the following morning, the pilot of a private aircraft located the wreckage in a mountain pass several miles southeast of Pelican City. A Coast Guard and civilian ground rescue party arrived the afternoon of November 5, rendered first aid to the two passengers, and stayed until the survivors and the body of the pilot were evacuated by helicopter on November 6.

After taking part to a fish regulation conference in Sitka, all passengers were returning to Juneau when they decided to perform a low pass over the King Salmon Bay (east part of the Admiralty Island) to make a stream survey of the salmon run conditions. At a height of 100 feet, while making a turn to the left, the aircraft hit the ground. The left wing and the left engine were sheared off and the seaplane crashed into the King Salmon Bay. Debris were scattered for more than 200 yards over the creek. A passenger who was seriously wounded was able to reach the shore and was spotted by a bush pilot about 24 hours later and transferred to a hospital in Juneau. As soon as the mishap was known to the USFWS, they sent their vessel christened 'Grizzly Bear' and three planes but reached the crash site on the morning of September 3 only. On site, they noted that all five other occupants have been killed in the crash and that the airplane was totally destroyed.
Crew:
Robert Meeks, pilot. †
Passengers:
George B. Kelez, †
Richard Schuman, †
Larry Kelleon, †
Pattie David Bidwell, †
Gomer Hilsinger.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area while completing a supply mission between Puntilla Lake and Farewell. Both occupants, a pilot and a passenger, were killed.

While flying about 25 miles northwest of McGrath in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain. As it failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found few hours later. Both crew members were killed in the crash.

While flying in freezing rain, the airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located about 20 miles north of Curry, in the Denali National Park. Six occupants were rescued while ten others were killed.

The crew was performing a flight from Canada to South Korea with an intermediate stop in Shemya, Aleutian Islands, taking part to the Korean airlift. After touchdown at Shemya Airport, the four engine aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Ketchikan Airport. There were no casualties.

The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight over the North Pacific Ocean when the radio operator informed ATC he would divert to Adak for an emergency landing due to a fire on board. While approaching Adak Airport, the seaplane hit the water surface and crashed into the ocean few miles off shore, killing all 12 crew members.

The four engine aircraft was completing a flight from McChord AFB to Elmendorf AFB, carrying 41 passengers and a crew of 11. En route, the crew was informed about strong winds gusting up to 40 knots from the west. While cruising by night and marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Gannett (9'650 feet high) located about 53 miles east of Elmendorf. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but due to poor weather conditions, first rescuers arrived on scene six days later only, on November 28. The wreckage was found on the Surprise Glacier, about 1,000 feet below the summit. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 52 occupants were killed. On June 9, 2012, some debris were found and on June 28, 2012, the wreckage was spotted again. Two years later, on June 18, 2014, the remains of 17 of the victims were identified and returned to their respectives families for burial.

The crew was performing a flight from Kodiak to Elmendorf AFB, taking part to the 'Warmwind' exercice. En route, the airplane disappeared in unclear circumstances. As it failed to arrive in Elmendorf, extensive SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended a month later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 20 occupants was found.