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Single-Engine Airplane Hits Mountain Ridge Near Palmer; One Killed, Two Injured (N5141G)

Palmer, United States of AmericaFlight

On June 8, 1976, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (registration N5141G) operated by Civil Air Patrol was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, United States of America in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain after the aircraft was unable to outclimb mountain ridge. Contributing factors: Exercised poor judgment, misjudged distance, speed and altitude, misused or failed to use flaps, high obstructions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive (1962-1981)Updated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

Minutes after takeoff from Palmer, a single-engine airplane struck a mountain ridge and crashed, killing one passenger and injuring the other two occupants. The aircraft was destroyed.

Accident Summary

Shortly after departure from Palmer, the pilot of a single-engine airplane decided to increase altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck a mountain ridge and crashed. One passenger was killed, and the other two occupants were injured. The airplane was destroyed in the incident.

Investigation

The official probable cause was determined to be controlled flight into terrain after the aircraft was unable to outclimb the mountain ridge. Contributing factors included the pilot exercising poor judgment, misjudging distance, speed, and altitude, misusing or failing to use flaps, and the presence of high obstructions.

Additional Details

The aircraft was a single-engine type. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff. The investigation report did not identify any additional causes.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Jun 1976 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident near Palmer, United States of America?

Minutes after takeoff from Palmer, a single-engine airplane struck a mountain ridge and crashed, killing one passenger and injuring the other two occupants. The aircraft was destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Jun 1976 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Jun 1976 involved a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, registration N5141G, operated by Civil Air Patrol, at Palmer, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Controlled flight into terrain after the aircraft was unable to outclimb mountain ridge. Contributing factors: Exercised poor judgment, misjudged distance, speed and altitude, misused or failed to use flaps, high obstructions.

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