Mail Plane Disappears Over Cook Inlet Near Anchorage

Casualties unknown • Kenai, AK, US

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.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1994-12-03 Cessna 206 accident near Kenai, AK?

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 aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1994-12-03 involved a Cessna 206, registration N5282U, operated by South Central Air, at Kenai, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

UNDETERMINED.

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.

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