Country
United States of America
code

AK

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Barrow

Date & Time: May 5, 1970 at 0340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
North Slope Supply Company
Registration:
N174W
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Barrow
MSN:
4636
YOM:
1956
Location:
Barrow
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
23379
Captain / Total hours on type:
3564.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Barrow, the crew failed to realize the configuration was wrong. Few dozen yards short of runway threshold, the airplane struck a snowbank, lost its undercarriage and its left wing before bursting into flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on finale approach. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Snow covered terrain,
- Snow,
- Snow on runway,
- Fire after impact,
- Left main gear, left wing and tail failed prior to fire.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45J Expeditor in Barrow

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1969 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Pan Alaska Airways
Registration:
N437PA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Barrow
MSN:
3845
YOM:
1943
Location:
Barrow
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12020
Captain / Total hours on type:
1141.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Barrow, an engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach. The following factors and findings were reported:
- Improper maintenance on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Anti-icing, de-icing system,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Engine icing,
- The crew failed to use or incorrectly used the miscellaneous equipment,
- Ice on propeller,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete engine failure,
- Hot air lines to intake air duct loose.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Alaska: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72611
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Elmendorf – King Salmon
MSN:
10716
YOM:
1945
Location:
Alaska
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:
4
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Elmendorf AFB to King Salmon. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1972 in an isolated area.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Sagwon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1969 at 0135 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N2711N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks - Sagwon
MSN:
38
YOM:
1967
Location:
Sagwon
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2136
Captain / Total hours on type:
236.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sagwon on a cargo flight from Fairbanks, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds. While descending to a height of 175 feet, the aircraft struck the ground in an approximately 30° bank near level pitch attitude and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on behalf of the crew which resulted in an uncontrolled collision with ground. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Low ceiling,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B-H2 Turbo Porter in Chevak

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1969 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
N2853T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel – Chevak
MSN:
574
YOM:
1965
Location:
Chevak
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
25953
Captain / Total hours on type:
4047.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Chevak, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway and came to a halt. All nine occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Poorly maintained runway surface,
- Overload failure,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Right gear caught in rut on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a SCAN-30 at Elusive Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1969 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
SCAN-30
Operator:
Registration:
N58Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sagwon - Elusive Lake
MSN:
27
YOM:
1949
Location:
Barrow
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:
2200
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Elusive Lake near Barrow, the amphibian plane bounced, went out of control, crashed and sank. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper level off and improper recovery from bounced landing on part of the pilot who received his type rating last July 1st.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion in Adak

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
151363
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Adak - Jacksonville
MSN:
185-5076
YOM:
1964
Location:
Adak
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Adak Airport, the pilot-in-command pull the control column and started to rotate when the copilot reported a technical problem (smoke hatch blew open). The crew decided to abort the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Few seconds later, the airplane veered off runway to the left and struck an obstacle, causing the right wing to be torn off. The airplane came to rest in flames down an embankment. All eight crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 402A on Mt McKinley: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1969 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N4524Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Anchorage - Kantishna
MSN:
402A-0024
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mt McKinley
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8340
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Anchorage on a survey flight to Kantishna, taking part to a SAR mission after a helicopter was missing. On approach to Mt McKinley, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto a slope of the the mountain. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled in flight because de pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following findings were reported:
- Downdrafts,
- Flaps found extended to 30°,
- Wind gusting up to 20 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-44D4-2 in Anchorage

Date & Time: May 1, 1969 at 0811 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-44
Operator:
Registration:
N446T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Kuparuk - Anchorage
MSN:
15
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
109
Location:
Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
Upon landing on runway 06L at Anchorage-Intl Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the copilot was the PIC at the time of the accident and he failed to level off properly. An excessive load upon touchdown caused the right main gear to collapse.
The following factors were considered as contributing:
- inadequate supervision of flight on part of the captain,
- pilot fatigue,
- seat belt not fastened,
- overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Craig: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1969 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Simpson Air Services
Registration:
N167W
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8
YOM:
1949
Location:
Craig
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
1862
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the bay of Craig, while in initial climb, the pilot completed a first turn when control was lost. The single engine airplane stalled and crashed into the sea few dozen yards offshore. The aircraft sank and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the fact that the pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed during initial climb. It was observed to make a steep and nose high turn.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Alaska