What happened
During a landing approach at Annette Island, the aircraft encountered challenging weather conditions. The runway surface was covered in ice, and strong crosswinds were present during the final phase of flight. As the plane touched down, these factors combined to cause the aircraft to veer off the left side of the runway.
The excursion resulted in significant structural damage, specifically the loss of the undercarriage. The aircraft eventually came to a stop outside the paved area. Despite the severity of the impact and the subsequent damage, all six individuals on board escaped without injury. The airframe was assessed as damaged beyond repair.
Findings
The incident is attributed to the combination of an icy runway surface and strong crosswinds during landing. While the specific aircraft involved is not definitively confirmed in available records, it is noted that a Curtiss C-46 with registration N92854 (c/n 250) may have been the machine involved in this event.