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Aircraft incident on Kagoak River involving ice breakthrough (N13626)

Kagoak River, United States of AmericaTaxiing

On May 8, 1983, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration N13626) operated by Supra International was involved in an aviation accident near Kagoak River, United States of America while taxiing. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft broke through the river's surface due to insufficient ice thickness to support taxiing weight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft partially submerged after breaking through ice while taxiing on the Kagoak River.

What happened

During a ground movement operation on the Kagoak River, an aircraft experienced a structural failure of the surface it was traversing. While the pilot was taxiing across the frozen river, the ice layer became unable to support the weight of the plane, resulting in a breakthrough.

As the ice gave way, the aircraft began to sink into the water. The incident resulted in the plane becoming partially submerged in the river. Despite the severity of the vessel entering the water, there were no injuries reported among the occupants during the event.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the incident was the unstable condition of the ice surface on the Kagoak River.
  • The aircraft was in the taxi phase of flight when the breakthrough occurred.

Probable cause

The aircraft broke through the river's surface due to insufficient ice thickness to support taxiing weight.

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