What happened
On July 21, 1961, Alaska Airlines Flight 779 was conducting a scheduled contract cargo operation. The aircraft involved was a Douglas DC-6A, specifically registered as N4203. During the approach phase at Shemya Air Force Base, the flight failed to reach the runway threshold safely.
The aircraft impacted the terrain short of the designated landing strip. The collision resulted in the immediate destruction of the airframe and the loss of all personnel on board. There were no survivors among the six crew members who were operating the flight at the time of the incident.
Investigation
Official inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash established that the aircraft did not achieve the necessary altitude or position to complete a safe landing at Shemya Air Force Base. The specific mechanical or environmental causes contributing to the failure to land were documented as part of the broader aviation safety review for that period, though no further technical breakdown is provided in the immediate source material.
Findings
The primary outcome of the event was the total loss of the Douglas DC-6A aircraft and the fatality of the entire crew. The incident highlighted the risks associated with cargo operations in remote or challenging environments during the early 1960s. No other parties were injured, as the flight was strictly a cargo mission with no passengers aboard.