Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air off Akutan Island

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1976 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Kenai Air Services
Registration:
N2400X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kenai - Dutch Harbor
MSN:
LJ-18
YOM:
1965
Location:
Akutan (Akutan Island)
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6350
Captain / Total hours on type:
61.00
Circumstances:
While flying along the Aleutian Islands on a charter flight from Kenai to Dutch Harbor, the crew realized his fuel reserve was low and decided to reduce his altitude and to ditch the aircraft off Akutan Island. All five occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Miscalculation of fuel consumption,
- Airways facilities,
- Pilot ditched the aircraft due to low fuel state,
- Driftwood Bay beacon inoperative due to antenna damage.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Valdez: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Kenai Air Services
Registration:
N54734
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kenai - Gulkana
MSN:
31-7405256
YOM:
1974
Location:
Valdez
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1345
Captain / Total hours on type:
5.00
Circumstances:
En route from Kenai to Gulkana, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane crashed on a snow covered mountain located in the region of Valdez. SAR operations were quickly suspended due to risk of avalanches. Few days later, it was confirmed that both occupants did not survive the accident.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged altitude, causing the aircraft to stuck the ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- High obstructions,
- Flew into rising terrain.
Final Report:
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