Zone
Alaska

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S Expeditor in Kotzebue: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
Registration:
N6674C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kotzebue – Nome
MSN:
8313
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kotzebue-Ralph Wien Memorial
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was returning to his base at Nome after having flown passengers to Kotzebue. After takeoff, a fire erupted in the cabin and the pilot elected to return for an emergency landing. While completing a sharp turn at low height, the right wing struck a telephone pole and was sheared off. Out of control, the airplane crashed and burned, killing the pilot. It was reported that cabin gas heater burst into flames after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D in Skwentna: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0893
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Nome
MSN:
16896/34153
YOM:
1945
Location:
Skwentna
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Enroute from Elmendorf AFB to Nome, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to divert to Skwentna Airport for an emergency landing. On short final, the airplane went out of control and crashed one mile short of runway. All 12 occupants were killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-95-BW Superfortress near Nome: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
45-21775
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ladd - Ladd
MSN:
13669
Location:
Nome
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left Ladd Army Airfield in the day for a 15 hours training sortie. While flying over the Seward Peninsula at low height, the four engine aircraft christened 'The Clobbered Turkey' hit the slope of Mt Hot Springs. The aircraft was written off but all eight crew members survived. Two of them decided to walk away to find help but were found dead few days later. Six other occupants were rescued later and three rescuers were killed as well during the salvage operations.
Crew:
Lt Vern H. Arnett, pilot,
Lt Donald B. Duesler, copilot,
Lt Frederick E. Sheetz, navigator,
Lt Lyle B. Larson, flight engineer,
Lt Francis Schaack, radar operator,
T/Sgt Wilbur E. Decker, electrical mechanic,
Sgt Olan R. Samford, radio operator,
S/Sgt Leslie R. Warre, photographer.
Source:
http://vintageairphotos.blogspot.ch/2014/12/the-legacy-of-clobbered-turkey-tragedy_19.html

Crash of a Douglas C-47A in Nome: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Mount McKinley Airfreight
Registration:
NC91002
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Fairbanks – Nome
MSN:
20227
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nome
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Nome Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. Apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude and passed below 400 feet when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain shrouded by clouds. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild Pilgrim 100B in Nome: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1944 at 1548 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild Pilgrim 100A
Operator:
Registration:
NC742N
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nome – Moses Point – Nulato – Galena – Fairbanks
MSN:
6706
Location:
Nome
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
3477
Captain / Total hours on type:
114.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6352
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Nome Airport in poor weather conditions (snow falls), the single engine aircraft hit trees and crashed on a mountain slope. All six occupants were killed, among them a crew of three.
Crew:
Robert Leslie Bullis,
Fred Moller,
Mr. Theodore.
Probable cause:
The probably cause of this accident was failure of the pilot to recognize his proximity to the ground due to heavy snow which entirely covered the terrain.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Nome