A tragic incident unfolded in western Alaska as a small aircraft crashed at a remote military location, claiming the lives of all eight occupants. The plane was attempting its second landing in dense fog when communication was lost, according to authorities on Friday. The two pilots of the Cessna were navigating solely by instruments due to poor visibility, leading to the crash around noon on Thursday, disclosed Clint Johnson, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s Alaska region chief during a virtual press briefing.
The initial landing attempt had to be aborted due to visibility concerns, as per regulations. Subsequently, the aircraft went down approximately 500 meters from the airstrip on the second try. The challenging terrain surrounding the gravel runway necessitates the use of GPS and other navigation aids, as advised by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Among the passengers were two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel and four contractors, two of whom were affiliated with Calista Brice, a group of companies specializing in construction, engineering, and logistics services in remote regions. The military has not disclosed the specific task being carried out at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, situated about 725 kilometers west of Anchorage along Alaska’s southwest coast.
NTSB investigators were en route to the crash site on Friday. The radar facility, established in the 1950s for early missile threat detection, now serves to monitor airspace towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the dedicated professionals involved in the mission at the radar site. He described them as essential contributors in a challenging operational environment.
Unfavorable weather conditions, including heavy fog, were prevalent in the area on the day of the accident. Meteorological data indicated a significant reduction in visibility shortly before the crash, with reports showing a rapid decline to less than 400 meters post-incident.
The airstrip is part of a private military installation managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, playing a role in tracking aircraft movements within Alaska’s airspace and along its boundaries. The outpost at Cape Newenham, predominantly maintained by civilian contractors, had been inactive since 1983, with sporadic visits for radar system upkeep.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mentioned that the deceased employees were part of a team supporting a project for the U.S. Air Force, without specifying further details. The flight was operated by Security Aviation, headquartered in Anchorage, with no immediate response to inquiries for comments.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the military community and the regions it serves, as acknowledged by Lt.-Gen. Davis. The loss of lives in such circumstances has reverberated through the close-knit community involved in the military operations at the radar site.