What happened
The cargo flight, known as 'Clipper Racer', was traveling from San Francisco to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, with scheduled stops at Tokyo, Đà Nẵng, and Elmendorf Air Force Base. Due to weather conditions at Anchorage International Airport falling below minimum visibility requirements, the crew diverted to Elmendorf AFB.
Following several delays, the aircraft began its taxi at 06:02. To prevent traffic conflicts, Oceanic Control provided a specific void time of 06:15; missing this window would have forced a 45-minute delay. During the taxi process, which involved navigating slippery surfaces with the assistance of a 'follow me' vehicle, the crew performed various checklists. The aircraft received takeoff clearance at 06:14.
Shortly after reaching a speed of 154 knots and rotating, the stick shaker activated. The Boeing 747 (implied by context/type) experienced a slow climb before the right wing struck the snow-covered ground approximately 2,760 feet from the runway, 94 feet left of the extended centerline. The impact caused the aircraft to roll inverted and subsequently break apart. There were no survivors reported in this accident.
Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by an attempted takeoff while the flaps remained in a retracted position. Several contributing factors were identified, including:
- Deficiencies in cockpit checklist execution and operational procedures
- Inadequate warning systems for operations in cold weather environments
- Failure to effectively implement manufacturer service bulletins
- Operational pressure on the crew to meet air traffic control time constraints