What happened
During an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach in light snow, a Douglas DC-6B experienced a catastrophic structural failure upon landing. The flight was being operated by a crew consisting of a senior check airman in the right seat and a less experienced pilot in the left seat, who had been designated to fly this specific leg. At the time of the incident, visibility was reported at approximately 4 miles, though a local weather observer noted lower ceilings and visibility of only 1 mile near the runway threshold.
As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, the crew encountered a sink rate exceeding normal parameters. While the initial contact with the runway was described as a firm touchdown, the left wing detached from the fuselage at the attachment point shortly after the aircraft touched the ground. Following the wing separation, the aircraft veered left, exiting the 5,000-foot runway and descending down an embankment into wet, tundra-covered terrain. A significant post-crash fire occurred, resulting in heavy damage to the center fuselage section.
Findings
Data recovered from the cockpit voice recorder indicated that the crew was managing power and descent during the final stages of the approach. The left wing separation occurred immediately following the touchdown. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported in the provided documentation, though the aircraft sustained heavy damage.