Alaska

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.

During arrival, Ryan Air flight 2401 (Cessna 402, N12333) contacted Nome FSS and reported 15 miles west of Nome. The pilot was advised the weather at Nome was below basic VFR. The pilot requested a special VFR clearance. He was advised to remain in VFR conditions outside the control zone and to standby for a clearance. Later, when FSS personnel tried to contact flight 2401 to issue the clearance, there was no reply from the pilot. Subsequently, a search was initiated for the aircraft. Four days later, it was found where it had crashed at about 450 feet msl on the east edge of Sledge Island, approximately 18 miles west of Nome. An exam of the wreckage revealed the aircraft had crashed into rising terrain, while in level flight on a heading of about 250°. No preimpact mechanical problem was evident. The 1300 adt weather at Nome was in part: 400 feet overcast, visibility 2 miles with rain and fog, wind from 120° at 12 knots.

The airplane crashed at the 1,800 foot level of a mountain pass, near Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and one passenger were seriously injured and four passengers received minor injuries. At the time of the accident the pass was reported closed due to IFR weather conditions.

Immediately after takeoff at 200-300 feet agl, a portion of fabric separated from the right aileron. While maneuvering the aircraft the pilot's control wheel became free, and he elected to ditch using full rudder and differential power. Examination of the pilot's control wheel aileron control chain revealed that the chain failed due to overload. The right seat was occupied by a mechanic employed by the operator and held a private pilot certificate with single and multi engine rating. He stated that he suggested to the pilot that his controls were functioning normally, but the pilot disagreed and proceeded to ditch the aircraft. Examination of the right control yoke revealed aileron movement in the correct direction.

The pilot landed the amphibian landing gear equipped aircraft on water with the wheels extended, and the aircraft flipped over to an inverted attitude on touchdown. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

During a flight from Juneau to Pelican, AK, the aircraft collided with terrain approximately 12 miles east of Pelican while crossing over Chichagof Island. Impact occurred on a vertical rock wall at an elevation of about 1,950 feet. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft was evident. Another pilot, who had planned to fly the same route about 1 hr and 45 min earlier, decided to fly around the island due to low clouds, rain and fog in the area. He reported that he flew over icy straits rather than take a more direct route and that ceilings were about 2,000 feet broken with lower stratus in the valleys. A helicopter pilot said he was unable to work in mountain passes in the vicinity of the accident due to low clouds, rain and fog; he also said the passes were 'socked in.' Both occupants were killed.

On short final to Fort Wainwright AFB, the airplane lost height, struck approach equipments then an embankment and eventually crashed about 600 feet short of runway threshold. Both pilots and seven passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. It was engaged in a combined exercice called 'Brim Frost'. At the time of the accident, the OAT was -46° C.

After departing the floatplane base on a company VFR flight plan, the scheduled commuter flight proceeded northwest along a saltwater strait at a low altitude above water. Two miles northwest of the airport the aircraft entered a snow squall and the pilot attempted a steep turn to reverse course. During the turn the aircraft impacted and sank in 167 feet deep water. Search and rescue efforts were suspended after 4 days.

The pilot planned to land at a seaplane base that was located in a bowl shaped cove. During the landing, the aircraft touched down long on water swells and the pilot elected to go around. Witnesses reported that during the go-around, the pilot initiated a steep turn while still at low altitude to avoid buildings and rising terrain. However, the aircraft entered a steep descent and crashed on a wooden walkway along the shoreline near the seaplane dock. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine was evident. The pilot was killed and both passengers were seriously injured.

The pilot encountered low ceilings, rain and fog while attempting to fly through a narrow mountain pass and successfully reversed course. He then flew into a small canyon off the main pass that terminated in a small glacier-covered bowl surrounded by steep rock walls. When it became apparent during a turn to reverse course that there was insufficient space to complete the maneuver before collision with a rock wall, the pilot retarded the throttles and crash landed on a glacier. A passenger was killed.