44 fatalities

1950-01-26: Douglas C-54 Skymaster (42-72469) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Snag, Canada

Snag, CanadaFlight

On January 26, 1950, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 42-72469) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Snag, Canada in flight. 44 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidence, it was impossible to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. 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 reportUpdated 1781258467Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft flying from Anchorage to Great Falls crashed near Snag, Yukon, after reporting normal operations. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of the aircraft or its 44 occupants was ever found.

Incident Overview

On a routine flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Great Falls, Montana, a four-engine aircraft carried a crew of eight and 36 passengers, including two civilians—an entrepreneur and his son. At approximately 1400 local time, while flying over western Canada near the US border, the crew reported their position to ground personnel and confirmed that all was operating smoothly. About nine minutes later, the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances in the region of Snag, Yukon.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Search and rescue operations were promptly initiated, with considerable resources deployed to locate the missing aircraft. However, after several weeks of searching, no trace of the aircraft nor any of the 44 occupants was found. All operations were ultimately suspended. As of 2016, the wreckage had not been discovered.

Investigation

Investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident due to a lack of evidence. However, icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the crash. The official findings stated that without physical evidence, the precise sequence of events leading to the accident could not be established.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidence, it was impossible to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident.