Zone
Alaska

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Red Devil

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1971 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Vanderpool Flying Service
Registration:
N49319
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel – Red Devil
MSN:
15231/26676
YOM:
1944
Location:
Red Devil
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:
7500
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Red Devil Airfield, the airplane hit a 3-foot high unmarked snowberm and came to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The airport supervisory personnel failed to notify of unsafe conditions and failed to mark the obstruction. The following factors were reported:
- Unmarked obstructions at airport,
- Airport conditions, snow on runway,
- Overload failure,
- Unmarked snowberm on runway 3 feet high and 40 feet from the edge of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B-H2 Turbo Porter in Chevak

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1969 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
N2853T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel – Chevak
MSN:
574
YOM:
1965
Location:
Chevak
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
25953
Captain / Total hours on type:
4047.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Chevak, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway and came to a halt. All nine occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Poorly maintained runway surface,
- Overload failure,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Right gear caught in rut on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Registration:
N7266C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bethel - Kodiak
MSN:
15-1191
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2640
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Bethel to Kodiak, the airplane disappeared in the North Pacific Ocean. SAR were conducted but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the possible cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-39 in Bethel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-39 (DC-2)
Operator:
Registration:
38-516
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2073
YOM:
1939
Location:
Bethel
Connecticut
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Five crew members were able to bail out. While probably attempting an emergency landing, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a pasture. Both pilots were killed.
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