Alaska

Site:

Schedule:

Kenai - King Salmon

MSN:

11219

YOM:

1953

Location:

King Salmon

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3568

Captain / Total hours on type:

37.00

Circumstances:

On landing at King Salmon Airport, the left engine fire warning sounded. In the meantime, an explosion occurred in the left wing tip. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Fire observed in the left engine nacelle area and the left wing tip exploded for reasons that could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207 Skywagon in South Naknek

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1980 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1722U

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

King Salmon - South Naknek

MSN:

207-0322

YOM:

1976

Location:

South Naknek

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2318

Captain / Total hours on type:

271.00

Circumstances:

While approaching South Naknek, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and icing conditions. On final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Collision with dirt bank on approach after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Ice on windshield,
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- The pilot delayed in initiating a go-around,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Downwind,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in West Dease: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1980 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Arctic Guide Air Taxi

Registration:

N3603R

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Dease - Koluktak Drill

MSN:

2005

YOM:

1966

Location:

West Dease

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2033

Captain / Total hours on type:

23.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from West Dease, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled then crashed in flames, killing all three occupants.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Nome: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N8061V

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Nome - Shishmaref

MSN:

294

YOM:

1970

Location:

Nome

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3453

Captain / Total hours on type:

731.00

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Nome on a VFR flight to Shishmaref, about 122 miles to the north. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls, limited visibility (night) and icing conditions. The airplane struck the slope of a mountain located to the north of Nome. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. The wreckage was localized on February 10, 1980. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants have been found dead.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain during normal cruise after the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Snow covered terrain,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Fog,
- Special VFR flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Dutch Harbor

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1979 at 1621 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Registration:

N300JA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dutch Harbor - Anchorage

MSN:

24-282

YOM:

1974

Location:

Dutch Harbor

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15756

Captain / Total hours on type:

5000.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Dutch Harbor Airport, the airplane swerved then collided with rocks and the right side of the runway. The crew aborted the takeoff procedure but the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. All six occupants were injured, three of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Swerve on takeoff run and subsequent collision with objects after the crew selected an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Inadequate snow removal from runway on part of the airport supervisory personnel,
- Wet runway,
- Ice/slush on runway,
- Poorly maintained runway surface,
- Soft runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV-M in Bettles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1979 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N99663

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Bettles - Ambler

MSN:

16719/33467

YOM:

1945

Location:

Bettles

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Circumstances:

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.

Probable cause:

Collision with parked aircraft on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Blowing snow,
- Visibility less than half a mile, below minimums,
- No alternate airport,
- LOC/DME approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Anchorage: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1979 at 1607 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6424H

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Anchorage – Tyonek

MSN:

207-0519

YOM:

1979

Location:

Anchorage-Merrill Field

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11120

Captain / Total hours on type:

540.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Anchorage-Merrill Field on a taxi flight to Tyonek, on the Cook Inlet. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the engine lost power. The airplane lost height then struck a hangar and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. There were no casualties on ground.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb and subsequent collision with building due to poor maintenance servicing. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improperly services aircraft by ground crew,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Water in fuel,
- Partial loss of engine power,
- Water found in storage tank,
- Leak in fill pipe,
- Lineboy serviced aircraft while the storage tank being filled.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon near Juneau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1979 at 1213 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Southeast Skyways

Registration:

N1726U

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Juneau – Hoonah

MSN:

207-0326

YOM:

1976

Location:

Juneau

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2623

Captain / Total hours on type:

21.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Juneau Airport on a taxi flight to Hoonah, carrying two passengers and one pilot. While climbing in poor weather conditions, the pilot suffered spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity, low ceiling, rain and turbulences.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with ground after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Turbulences associated with thunderstorm activity,
- Squall line,
- Merging cloud layers forecasted,
- Blood alcohol level 1,08‰.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/350 Porter near Sparrevohn

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1979 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4912

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Red Devil - Anchorage

MSN:

544

YOM:

1962

Location:

Sparrevohn

Country:

Region: