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Aircraft Breaks in Two During Emergency Landing on Snow; Three Occupants Uninjured (N75430)

Prudhoe Bay, United States of AmericaFlight

On May 21, 1970, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration N75430) operated by Club Aire was involved in an aviation accident near Prudhoe Bay, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight caused by the combination of the following factors: Inadequate preflight preparation, Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls, Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system, Improper/inadequate venting, Improper emergency… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

While en route to Fairbanks at cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and could not maintain altitude. They performed an emergency landing on snow-covered ground. The aircraft slid and broke in two; all three occupants were uninjured.

Incident

While en route to Fairbanks, the aircraft was at cruising altitude when the crew encountered engine problems. They were unable to maintain the prescribed altitude. The crew decided to perform an emergency landing on snow-covered ground. The airplane crash landed, slid for approximately a dozen yards, and came to rest broken in two. All three occupants were uninjured.

Official Findings

The probable cause of the accident was determined to be engine failure in flight caused by a combination of factors, including:

  • Inadequate preflight preparation
  • Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls
  • Oil exhaustion and engine lubrication system issues
  • Improper or inadequate venting
  • Improper emergency procedures
  • Lack of familiarity with aircraft
  • Initiation of flight into adverse weather conditions
  • Low ceiling and fog
  • Conditions conducive to carburetor icing
  • Complete engine failure on one engine
  • Idling engines too long prior to takeoff, resulting in condensation freezing
  • Plugged lower breather pipe causing oil to exit through the top pipe
Engine failure

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