What happened
On January 18, a flight consisting of 40 passengers departed Elmendorf Air Force Base. The aircraft was operating with a takeoff weight of 68,275 pounds and carried sufficient fuel and oil for the mission. After climbing to 10,000 feet and descending to 8,000 feet near Middleton Island, the flight proceeded toward its destination.
During the early hours of January 19, while positioned opposite Sitka, Alaska, the pilot reported that the number one propeller had feathered. The crew identified a broken oil cooler as the source of the issue and decided to divert to Sandspit for a precautionary landing. Upon arrival at Sandspit, the aircraft touched down approximately one-third of the way down the runway. After a short roll, the pilot attempted to take off again near the middle of the strip. The aircraft type managed to clear a small fence and driftwood at the end of the runway but subsequently entered a shallow left bank at low altitude.
The aircraft settled into the water in the Hecately Strait. Although seven survivors were rescued from the right wing tip by a local radio operator, the accident resulted in 36 fatalities due to drowning and exposure in near-freezing temperatures.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to perform a high approach and an attempt to regain flight at an insufficient airspeed. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The loss of oil caused the shutdown and feathering of the first engine.
- The attempt to become airborne at insufficient air speed led the aircraft to settle into the water.
- No preparations were made for a crash landing or ditching, and emergency lighting was not used.
- Life rafts remained in the rear of the cabin and were not deployed.
- Search and Rescue services were not notified until after the impact because the three-engine flight was not initially treated as an active emergency.