Fairbanks

The certificated airline transport captain related that the purpose of the flight was to deliver about 4,800 gallons of fuel oil to the remote mining site. He said that the 5,400 feet long by 100 feet wide airstrip was situated within hilly, snow-covered terrain. He added that the airstrip has a 7 percent uphill grade. Flat light conditions existed at the airstrip, and light snow showers were present, with visibility reported at 2 miles. The captain stated that during final approach, as the airplane passed over the airstrip threshold, flat light conditions made it very difficult to discern where the airstrip surface was. He said that the initial touchdown was "firm", but was thought to be within acceptable tolerances. Just after touchdown, the left wing broke free from the airplane at the wing to fuselage attach point. The airplane veered to the left, and off the left side of the runway. The captain said that the airplane's computed landing weight was 92,260 pounds.

The air cargo flight had just off loaded its cargo at a remote site. Shortly after takeoff, the number two engine begin to run rough. The engine was shut down, and the propeller feathered. During the shutdown process, a fire warning light illuminated, and fire became visible near the number 2 engine. The crew activated both banks of engine fire extinguishers, but were unable to extinguish the fire. While on approach to an off-airport emergency landing site, the number two engine fell off and ignited a brush fire. The crew made a successful landing and ran away from the airplane. The airplane continued to burn and was destroyed by fire. The number 2 engine was not recovered or located.

The captain stated there were no runway condition reports and a local contact stated the runway was in good condition. They landed and the braking action was nil. The captain maneuvered the airplane to a dry patch of dirt on the left side of the runway. When the main gear rolled onto the dry patch the airplane veered sharply to the left and departed the runway. Both crewmembers stated a go around was not possible. According to landing performance charts, the minimum landing runway length was 4,500 feet on a dry hard surface runway. The actual runway length was 3,500 feet.

The heavily loaded fuel tanker landed with an approximate 3 knot tailwind, overran the departure end of the runway, and came to a stop on a frozen river. The last two thirds of the 3,150 feet long gravel runway was covered with ice. The crew stated that the propellers either failed to go into reverse, or were slow in reversing, to assist in stopping. Examination revealed that all propeller blades were in the reversed position. Outside air temperature was minus 30 to minus 35° F. The airplane performance chart used to calculate the landing distance was for 'concrete runways'. Stopping distance was not predicated on the use of reverse propeller thrust. Post accident calculations, using the same chart, found the estimated landing distance needed for the accident flight to be 100 to 200 feet more than the length of the runway.

The airplane collided with a mountain at the 2,936 foot level. At the time of the accident the weather was 500 obscured, visibility two miles, with fog. The airplane was on a company vfr flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger received minor injuries.

The pilot was attempting a takeoff on an airstrip where braking action was considered good during the normal summer season. It was about 3,000 feet in elevation and was snow covered most of the year, as on the day of the accident. The strip accommodated takeoffs to the south only due to grading and obstructions. Frequently, this meant a downwind takeoff. On the day of the accident, there was a 5 knots wind from the north with gusts to 10 knots. The pilot said that nose wheel steering was not effective due to the surface and the rudder was not responsive due to the tailwind. Most pilots used a 25° (right turn) dogleg of the runway at the north end to start their takeoff, especially when tailwinds were present. The accident aircraft went off the runway to the left and collided with a snowbank where it nosed over. All four occupants escaped uninjured.

Just after touchdown the aircraft rolled over a frost heave on the runway surface and began veering to the right. The pilot applied left brake and added power to the right engine but the aircraft continued going right until the right wing struck a hill adjacent to the right side of the runway. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch 110° to the right of the landing runway heading. Examination of the right main landing gear tire revealed a large jagged opening in the sidewall which extended into the tread area of the tire. This opening matched one of the sides of a rock found in the vicinity of the frost heave. The aircraft maintenance logbooks were reviewed and found to have no record of compliance with airworthiness directives. Both pilots escaped uninjured.

While cruising in poor weather conditions on a cargo flight from Barrow to Fairbanks, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located near a pipeline, in the region of Livengood. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The approach to Bettles Airport was unstable and completed in poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and blowing snow. The aircraft crashed on three parked aircraft on apron. The C-47 was destroyed and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.