On January 26, 1963, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration N67933) operated by Skyvan Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Lisburne, United States of America during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An uncontrollable loss of altitude caused by adverse wind conditions during an attempted go around. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
During a landing change due to wind shift, an unsatisfactory sink rate triggered a go-around. The aircraft settled at 150 feet and crashed into the Chukchi Sea. One pilot drowned in cold water. Downdrafts were cited as probable cause.
Incident Overview
While preparing to land on runway 08, the flight crew experienced a wind shift from east to south. The captain elected to change the landing to runway 26. During the approach, the sink rate became unsatisfactory, and the crew initiated a go-around. At an altitude of 150 feet, while in a right turn, the aircraft settled and crashed into the Chukchi Sea approximately 300 yards from the runway. Both pilots survived the impact, but one drowned in the 27°F water.
Cause and Contributing Factors
Investigators concluded that downdrafts in the area north of the runway probably caused the aircraft to settle. These downdrafts are known to occur when the wind is from the south, a phenomenon resulting from the high terrain surrounding the airstrip on all sides except the north. The official probable cause was an uncontrollable loss of altitude caused by adverse wind conditions during an attempted go-around.