Alaska

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Shemya - Shemya

MSN:

17979/394

YOM:

1960

Location:

Shemya

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Shemya following a reconnaissance mission. After touchdown on an icy runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest few dozen yards farther. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all 18 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C at Elmendorf AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1968 at 0615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

N799PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Elmendorf-Richardson AFB (JBER)

Schedule:

San Francisco – Elmendorf – Tokyo – Đà Nẵng – Cam Ranh Bay

MSN:

18824/397

YOM:

1964

Flight number:

PA799

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15207

Captain / Total hours on type:

3969.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

9813

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2813

Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Clipper Racer' departed San Francisco on a cargo flight to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam with en route stops at Elmendorf AFB, Tokyo and Đà Nẵng. Because of below minima weather at Anchorage International Airport, the aircraft landed at Elmendorf AFB. Several delays were experienced before the flight taxied out at 06:02. Flight 799 was given a void time of 06:15 by Oceanic Control to avoid traffic conflict. If the crew failed to make that time, it would result in a 45 min delay. When the checklist item "wing flaps" was called, the 'follow me' truck arrived to guide them to runway 23. From then on the crew were busy steering the plane on the slippery taxiways and talking to Oceanic Control resp. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 06:14. The stick shaker sounded shortly after VR (154 kts). The aircraft rotated climbed slowly. The right wing contacted the snow covered ground 94 feet left of the extended centerline at a distance of 2760 feet from the runway. The aircraft rolled inverted and broke up.

Probable cause:

An attempted takeoff with the flaps in a retracted position. This resulted from a combination of factors:
- Inadequate cockpit checklist and procedures,
- A warning system inadequacy associated with cold weather operations,
- Ineffective control practices regarding manufacturer's Service Bulletins,
- Stresses imposed upon the crew by their attempts to meet an air traffic control deadline.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-10C Hercules in Prudhoe Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1968 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

N760AL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Prudhoe Bay

MSN:

4229

YOM:

1967

Location:

Prudhoe Bay

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18000

Captain / Total hours on type:

936.00

Circumstances:

During the final approach completed by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. At an altitude of 200 feet, the pilot-in-command lost sight of the runway and decided to attempt a go-around when the airplane struck obstacles and crashed short of runway. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot-in-command continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions,
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Downdrafts,
- Obstruction to vision,
- Blowing snow,
- Pilot lost visual reference due to blowing snow.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18 in Kenai

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1968 at 1402 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

North Air

Registration:

N5730U

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

BA-489

YOM:

1960

Location:

Kenai

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2525

Captain / Total hours on type:

470.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Kenai, the crew encountered icing conditions. During a last turn to join the approach path, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed few km short of runway. All nine occupants were injured, four of them seriously.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Aircraft not aligned with runway,
- Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain,
- Fog,
- Heavy aircraft icing with ice fog encountered during circling approach,
- Stalled during attempt to align with runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon on Sanak Island

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1968 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-44 Widgeon

Operator:

Registration:

N148M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1220

YOM:

1942

Location:

Sanak Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11500

Captain / Total hours on type:

3000.00

Circumstances:

While taking off from a lagoon off Sanak Island, the airplane failed to get airborne, struck the shore and crashed. All four occupants were injured, two of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Sudden windshift,
- Quartering tailwind up to 30 knots,
- The pilot attempted to takeoff from a lagoon at low tide.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27B in Pedro Bay: 39 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1968 at 0936 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild F27

Operator:

Registration:

N4905

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Anchorage – Iliamna – Big Mountain – King Salmon – Dillingham

MSN:

YOM:

1959

Flight number:

WC055

Location:

Pedro Bay

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10557

Captain / Total hours on type:

5357.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

12087

Aircraft flight hours:

17194

Circumstances:

A Wien Consolidated Airlines Fairchild F-27B, N4905, crashed at Pedro Bay, Alaska. The 36 passengers and three crew members were killed in the accident and the aircraft was destroyed by in-flight breakup and ground impact. The aircraft was being operated as Flight 55 in scheduled domestic passenger service between Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC) and Dillingham Municipal Airport, AK (DLG) with en route stops at Iliamna Airport, AK (ILI), Big Mountain Airport, AK (BMX), and King Salmon Airport, AK (AKN). Flight 55 departed from Anchorage at 08:46 on an instrument flight plan for Iliamna. The flight was cleared to cruise at 16,000 feet. The weather at Iliamna was reported to be clear, and the visibility was 15 miles at the time of the flight's departure from Anchorage. The flight proceeded toward Iliamna without reported difficulty, and at 09:25, the first officer requested a clearance for an approach to Iliamna. This request was approved. No further communication was received from the crew. Ground witnesses in and around the Pedro Bay area reported that they saw a fireball and a large cloud of black smoke which appeared to be behind the wing of the aircraft. The aircraft appeared to continue on course for a short period of time, then pieces of the aircraft were seen falling, and the aircraft entered a spinning descent. The major portion of the wreckage was located on the southern shore of Foxies Lake at an elevation of approximately 220 feet.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an in-flight structural failure caused by an encounter with severe to extreme turbulence. This turbulence was not forecast and its presence was not known to the flight crew. The failure occurred in an area of the right wing (WS 197) which had been weakened to an indeterminate degree by pre-existing fatigue cracks.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Barrow: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1968 at 0954 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Barrow Air Services

Registration:

N3810C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-750-40

YOM:

1959

Location:

Barrow

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:

13262

Captain / Total hours on type:

41.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Barrow Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames. A passenger was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Failure of the right engine for undetermined reason,
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft-weight and CofG,
- Aircraft allowed to enter condition of asymmetrical thrust,
- Aircraft overloaded by 475 lbs.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q in Klawock

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-24304

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

10166

YOM:

1943

Location:

Klawock

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was transferring the aircraft to Vietnam. While approaching Klawock Airstrip located in south Alaska, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a swampy area. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Tin City

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1968 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N401M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-338-31

YOM:

1956

Location:

Tin City

Country:

Region: