Alaska

MSN:

402-0264

YOM:

1968

Location:

Anchorage-Merrill Field

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed while taking off from Anchorage-Merrill Field Airport due to an excessive accumulation of frost on wings and fuselage. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in Fairbanks: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1975 at 1902 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

N77DG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Happy Valley

MSN:

43520

YOM:

1952

Location:

Fairbanks

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

24535

Captain / Total hours on type:

16000.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 10 at fairbanks Airport, while in initial climb, three engines failed simultaneously. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return when the airplane stalled, collided with trees and crashed 1,5 mile short of runway 19. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Partial loss of power on three engines after takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flight engineer,
- Improperly serviced aircraft on part of the ground personnel,
- Fuel contamination - exclusive of water in fuel,
- Deficiency in company maintained equipment, services and regulation,
- High obstructions,
- Fuel contamination due 100/130 & kerosene mix found in aircraft, refuel truck and underground storage.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Kenai Air Services

Registration:

N54734

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kenai - Gulkana

MSN:

31-7405256

YOM:

1974

Location:

Valdez

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Alaska: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1975 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Channel Flying Services

Registration:

N1944

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tenakee - Juneau

MSN:

1692

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9900

Captain / Total hours on type:

840.00

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Alaska while completing a flight from Tenakee to Juneau. No trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was ever found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Kodiak: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

N1583V

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Old Harbor - Kodiak

MSN:

1125

YOM:

1942

Location:

Kodiak

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1494

Captain / Total hours on type:

137.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes before its scheduled arrival in Kodiak, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the Chiniak Bay. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188AF Electra in Deadhorse

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1974 at 2015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

N400FA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

San Francisco - Fairbanks - Deadhorse

MSN:

1064

YOM:

1959

Location:

Deadhorse

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7400

Captain / Total hours on type:

33.00

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a cargo flight from San Francisco to Deadhorse with an intermediate stop in Fairbanks, carrying a crew of three and 17,000 liters of fuel. After touchdown on a gravel runway covered by snow and ice, control was lost. The airplane veered off runway to the left, contacted an embankment then came to rest on a road. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failed to maintain directional control after touchdown. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant controls,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Thrust reversal asymmetrical,
- Overload failure,
- Airport conditions with ice/slush on runway,
- Gravel runway covered with compacted snow and ice,
- Hit five feet road bank.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Deadhorse

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1974 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N959L

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Deadhorse - Anchorage

MSN:

570

YOM:

1972

Location:

Deadhorse

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4477

Captain / Total hours on type:

676.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the right engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and collided with a snow bank. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Exercised poor judgment,
- Airport facilities, runway lighting,
- Engine lost power about liftoff,
- Aircraft veered to right of runway into snow,
- Runway light inoperative,
- Dark,
- Ice fog in area.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Hoonah: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1974 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Southeast Skyways

Registration:

N9770Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Juneau - Tenakee

MSN:

376

YOM:

1952

Location:

Hoonah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2864

Captain / Total hours on type:

300.00

Circumstances:

En route from Juneau to Tenakee, the pilot encountered bad weather conditions with low clouds and heavy snow falls. While cruising at low height under VFR mode, the seaplane crashed into the bay off Hoonah and sank. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper in-flight decisions as the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and snow.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-14C Hercules in Old Man’s Camp: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1974 at 2336 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Alaska International Air

Registration:

N102AK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Bettles - Dietrich Camp

MSN:

4234

YOM:

1967

Location:

Old Man's Camp

Country:

Region: