Charter Cessna crashes near Alaska radar site, killing eight

A twin-engine Cessna 441 chartered by Security Aviation went down near Cape Newenham Airport, a remote Air Force airstrip that serves a long-range radar site in western Alaska, killing all eight occupants. The aircraft had departed Anchorage for the 450-mile-southwest destination and was reported missing around 12:15 p.m. Thursday, prompting a search-and-rescue operation that later confirmed there were no survivors.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said the NTSB will lead an investigation into the crash. The Alaska region chief of the NTSB identified the passengers as two pilots and six other personnel, all of whom were on a civilian-contracted flight authorized to land at the military facility.

Cape Newenham’s gravel runway, about 4,000 feet long and situated on the slope of a 2,300-foot mountain, is surrounded by high terrain that can make an aborted landing difficult, according to FAA charts.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis expressed condolences, noting the loss to the military community. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski also offered sympathy and thanked rescue agencies for their response.

Security Aviation described its fleet of Cessna Conquest aircraft as suited for Alaska’s challenging weather and airport conditions, noting the model’s pressurised cabin, nine-passenger capacity and cruise speed of 330 mph at 28,000 feet.