Casualties unknown

Mail Plane Disappears Over Cook Inlet Near Anchorage (N5282U)

Kenai, AK, US

On December 3, 1994, a Cessna 206 (registration N5282U) operated by South Central Air was involved in an aviation accident near Kenai, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: UNDETERMINED. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 11 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A mail-carrying aircraft vanished from radar approximately one to two miles off the coast of the Kenai Peninsula while flying southward over Cook Inlet near Anchorage. No wreckage has been recovered.

What happened

The flight originated at Kenai, Alaska, carrying a load of mail and cargo. At the time of departure, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at both the departure airport and the intended destination. Weather reports indicated that conditions deteriorated to the southeast of the departure point, which aligned with the direction of the destination airport.

Following takeoff, the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center tracked a primary radar target moving southward along the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula. The aircraft continued its flight path until it disappeared from radar coverage approximately one to two miles offshore over Cook Inlet. This loss of signal occurred near Anchor Point, abeam Happy Valley.

Despite extensive efforts, no wreckage has been recovered from the area where the target vanished.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X02668. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.