Zone
Alaska

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Kaktovik

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1985 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N540N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Prudhoe Bay – Kaktovik
MSN:
401
YOM:
1973
Location:
Kaktovik (Barter Island)
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5311
Captain / Total hours on type:
2098.00
Aircraft flight hours:
13652
Circumstances:
Aircraft crashed during missed approach to temporary winter landing strip. Aircraft hit in steep nose down attitude. Marginal weather conditions prevailed, with icing reported. All four occupants were injured, both pilots seriously.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
1. (f) terrain condition - snow covered
2. (c) flight manuals - not followed - pilot in command
3. (f) overconfidence in aircraft's ability - pilot in command
4. (f) inadequate surveillance of operation - company/operator mgmt
5. (f) weather condition - fog
6. (f) weather evaluation - inaccurate - pilot in command
7. (f) company-induced pressure - company/operator management
8. (f) inadequate surveillance of operation - faa (organization)
9. (f) light condition - dark night
10. (f) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
11. (f) expectancy - other person
12. (f) insuff standards/requirements, operation/operator - company/operator mgmt
13. (f) light condition - dark night
14. (f) weather evaluation - inaccurate - pilot in command
15. (f) fatigue (flight and ground schedule) - pilot in command
16. (c) weather condition - icing conditions
17. (f) flight into known adverse weather - intentional - pilot in command
18. Fatigue (flight and ground schedule) - copilot/second pilot
19. (f) wing - ice
20. (f) anti-ice/deice system - not used - pilot in command
21. (c) altitude - inadequate - pilot in command
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Prudhoe Bay

Date & Time: May 21, 1970 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Club Aire
Registration:
N75430
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pingo – Fairbanks
MSN:
4490
YOM:
1942
Location:
Prudhoe Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8430
Captain / Total hours on type:
220.00
Circumstances:
En route to Fairbanks, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and was unable to maintain de prescribed altitude. He decided to perform an emergency landing in a snow covered ground when the airplane crash landed, slid for dozen yards and came to rest, broken in two. All three occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper/inadequate venting,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Initiated flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor icing,
- Complete engine failure on one engine,
- Idled engines too long prior to takeoff, condensation froze,
- Plugged lower breather pipe, oil went out top pipe.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-10C Hercules in Prudhoe Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1968 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
N760AL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Prudhoe Bay
MSN:
4229
YOM:
1967
Location:
Prudhoe Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
936.00
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. At an altitude of 200 feet, the pilot-in-command lost sight of the runway and decided to attempt a go-around when the airplane struck obstacles and crashed short of runway. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot-in-command continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions,
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Downdrafts,
- Obstruction to vision,
- Blowing snow,
- Pilot lost visual reference due to blowing snow.
Final Report:
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