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15 fatalities

Flight 307 Crash Near Cold Bay, Alaska (CF-CUP)

Cold Bay (ex Fort Randall AAF & Thornbrough AFB), United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 29, 1956, a Douglas DC-6 (registration CF-CUP) operated by Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air was involved in an aviation accident near Cold Bay (ex Fort Randall AAF & Thornbrough AFB), United States of America during landing or approach. 15 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The probable cause of this accident was the full retraction of the wing flaps at low altitude during a circling approach without necessary corrective action being taken by the crew. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

Flight 307 crashed near Cold Bay, Alaska, after a low-altitude turn during an instrument approach. Eleven passengers and four crew members were killed in the accident.

Flight Details and Timeline Flight 307 departed Vancouver, British Columbia, at 1347 Bering standard time, bound for Hong Kong, China. The flight was scheduled to refuel at Cold Bay, Alaska, and make an intermediate stop in Tokyo, Japan. The aircraft carried a crew of eight and 14 passengers. At 2011, the flight reported being 100 miles from Cold Bay, estimating arrival at 2036. At 2035, it reported being over the Cold Bay range station outbound on a standard instrument approach. At 2042, the flight reported completing a procedure turn and proceeding inbound. This was the last transmission from the aircraft.

Probable cause

The probable cause of this accident was the full retraction of the wing flaps at low altitude during a circling approach without necessary corrective action being taken by the crew.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 29 Aug 1956 Douglas DC-6 accident near Cold Bay (ex Fort Randall AAF & Thornbrough AFB), United States of America?

Flight 307 crashed near Cold Bay, Alaska, after a low-altitude turn during an instrument approach. Eleven passengers and four crew members were killed in the accident.

Were there any fatalities in the 29 Aug 1956 Douglas DC-6 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 15 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 29 Aug 1956 involved a Douglas DC-6, registration CF-CUP, operated by Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air, at Cold Bay (ex Fort Randall AAF & Thornbrough AFB), United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The probable cause of this accident was the full retraction of the wing flaps at low altitude during a circling approach without necessary corrective action being taken by the crew.

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