Zone
Alaska

Crash of a Fairchild C-123 off Cape Lisburne: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Nome – Cape Lisburne
Location:
Cape Lisburne
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a supply mission from Elmendorf AFB to Cape Lisburne with an intermediate stop in Nome, carrying supply for the local weather station. On approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and winds gusting up to 28 knots. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the Chukchi Sea, about 150 feet offshore. All nine occupants were killed, among them two civilians.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Cape Lisburne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Skyvan Airways
Registration:
N67933
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kotzebue – Cape Lisburne
MSN:
22380
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cape Lisburne
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:
1
Circumstances:
The wind direction shifted from east to south while the crew were preparing to land at runway 08. The captain decided to initiate a landing on runway 26. The sink rate during the approach became unsatisfactory and a go around was attempted. The aircraft was in a right turn at 150 feet when the plane settled and crashed in the Chuckchi Sea, some 300 yards from the runway. Both pilots survived the impact, but one of them drowned in the 27° F water. Downdrafts in the area north of the runway probably caused the plane to settle. Downdrafts were known to exist when the wind is southerly. The phenomena is caused by high terrain surrounding the strip on all sides except the north.
Probable cause:
An uncontrollable loss of altitude caused by adverse wind conditions during an attempted go around.
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