Eight Killed When Charter Plane Crashes Near Alaska Radar Site
A Cessna 441 charter flight en route from Anchorage to Cape Newenham crashed on Thursday, killing all eight occupants; investigators from the FAA and NTSB are responding.
A chartered Cessna 441 that departed Anchorage for Cape Newenham in western Alaska crashed near the remote airstrip at about 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, killing the two pilots and six passengers on board, federal officials said. The flight was operated by Security Aviation and was carrying eight personnel, including two employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to statements from the Alaska Command and the Corps.
Search-and-rescue teams confirmed there were no survivors. The aircraft went down at Cape Newenham Airport, an Air Force runway that serves a Long Range Radar Site situated on the slope of a mountain over 2,300 feet high. The gravel runway is roughly 4,000 feet long and is flanked by high terrain, conditions that can make an aborted landing difficult.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a joint investigation, with the NTSB taking the lead.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis expressed sympathy for the families of the victims, saying the deceased were “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission.” Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski also issued a statement of condolences, thanking the Coast Guard, NTSB, state troopers and the rescue coordination center for their response.
Security Aviation noted that its fleet of Cessna Conquest aircraft is designed for Alaska’s challenging weather and airport environments; the twin-engine, turbo-prop planes are pressurized, seat up to nine passengers and can cruise at 330 mph at 28,000 feet.
Names of those on board will be released after next of kin are notified.