What happened
On August 20, 2025, at approximately 0632 Alaska daylight time, a Platform Aerospace VA 001 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), registration N246VU, was involved in an accident near a beachside cliff in Ninilchik, Alaska. The aircraft was being operated by VU HOLDINGS LLC under a Certificate of Authorization (COA) Waiver as a Public Use Armed Forces Aircraft.
The aircraft was returning to Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, following a 72-hour continuous flight to Shemya Island. While flying over open water at an altitude of 5,500 feet MSL, the UAS suffered a total loss of engine power, initiating an uncommanded descent.
During troubleshooting, the flight crew managed to briefly restore partial power by opening the wing fuel drain solenoid, but the engine could not maintain altitude. After failing to restore sufficient power, the crew shut down the engine to manage the descent rate and transitioned to a power-off glide toward the shore to attempt an off-airport emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft impacted a cliffside, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. There were no injuries as the aircraft was unmanned.