Wien Air Alaska Flight 99: Difference between revisions
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==Flight== |
==Flight== |
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[[Wien Air Alaska]] Flight 99 originated in [[Nome, Alaska|Nome]] on 30 August 1975, bound for [[Savoonga]] and [[Gambell]]. The flight from Nome to Savoonga was uneventful, and the plane departed Savoonga for Gambell at 1327H.<ref name="ntsb1">[http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR76-01.pdf Air Disaster, NTSB Report, Wien Air Alaska Fairchild F-27B, N4904, Gambell, St. Lawrence, Alaska.]</ref> |
[[Wien Air Alaska]] Flight 99 originated in [[Nome, Alaska|Nome]] on 30 August 1975, bound for [[Savoonga]] and [[Gambell]]. The flight from Nome to Savoonga was uneventful, and the plane departed Savoonga for Gambell at 1327H.<ref name="ntsb1">[http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR76-01.pdf Air Disaster, NTSB Report, Wien Air Alaska Fairchild F-27B, N4904, Gambell, St. Lawrence, Alaska.]</ref> |
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As Gambell did not have a tower, the Wien agent at Gambell, upon hearing the plane radio its departure from Savoonga, turned on the [[non-directional beacon]] at Gambell to aid the flight{{'}}s crew in navigation. |
As Gambell did not have a tower, the Wien agent at Gambell, upon hearing the plane radio its departure from Savoonga, turned on the [[non-directional beacon]] at Gambell to aid the flight{{'}}s crew in navigation. |
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[[Fog]] was prevalent in the Gambell area, and the crew discussed strategies to land at the airport. After several missed approaches, the plane flew north over the community, and turned east, and then south to make one final pass. The plane passed over Troutman Lake east of Gambell, and turned south, before impacting Sevuokuk Mountain at an altitude of {{convert|424|ft}}.<ref name="ntsb1" /> |
[[Fog]] was prevalent in the Gambell area, and the crew discussed strategies to land at the airport. After several missed approaches, the plane flew north over the community, and turned east, and then south to make one final pass. The plane passed over Troutman Lake east of Gambell, and turned south, before impacting Sevuokuk Mountain at an altitude of {{convert|424|ft}}.<ref name="ntsb1" /> |
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==Cause== |
==Cause== |
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The cause of the crash, according to the NTSB, was improper IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operation, failure to adhere to instrument approach procedures. The airplane collided with a mountain on a missed approach to landing, after multiple missed approaches. The weather at the airport was [[ |
The cause of the crash, according to the NTSB, was improper IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operation, failure to adhere to instrument approach procedures. The airplane collided with a mountain on a missed approach to landing, after multiple missed approaches. The weather at the airport was [[Instrument approach#Minimum descent altitude .28MDA.29|below approach minima]] with a low ceiling and sea fog.<ref name="ntsb1" /><ref>[http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=49762&key=0 NTSB Report on the Crash]</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Aviation lists}} |
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{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1975}} |
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1975}} |
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Revision as of 18:53, 23 June 2015
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 August 1975 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain in fog, pilot error, |
| Website | Gambell, Alaska, United States 63°45′54″N 171°42′30″W / 63.76500°N 171.70833°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Fairchild F-27B |
| Operator | Wien Air Alaska |
| Registration | N4904 |
| Flight origin | Nome, Alaska, United States |
| 1st stopover | Savoonga, Alaska |
| Destination | Gambell Airport Gambell, Alaska, United States |
| Passengers | 28 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Injuries | 22 |
| Survivors | 22 |
Wien Air Alaska Flight 99 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight that crashed into Sevuokuk Mountain, when on approach to Gambell Alaska, on 30 August 1975, killing 10 of the 32 crew and passengers on board, including the pilot and co-pilot. The Fairchild F-27B aircraft was operated by Wien Air Alaska.
Flight
Wien Air Alaska Flight 99 originated in Nome on 30 August 1975, bound for Savoonga and Gambell. The flight from Nome to Savoonga was uneventful, and the plane departed Savoonga for Gambell at 1327H.[1] As Gambell did not have a tower, the Wien agent at Gambell, upon hearing the plane radio its departure from Savoonga, turned on the non-directional beacon at Gambell to aid the flight's crew in navigation.
Fog was prevalent in the Gambell area, and the crew discussed strategies to land at the airport. After several missed approaches, the plane flew north over the community, and turned east, and then south to make one final pass. The plane passed over Troutman Lake east of Gambell, and turned south, before impacting Sevuokuk Mountain at an altitude of 424 feet (129 m).[1]
After impact, the plane broke apart and was propelled up the mountain approximately 132 feet (40 m), coming to rest inverted. A fire broke out, and the residents of the village came to aid, attempting to put the fire out with hand-held extinguishers.[1] All but one of the injured passengers were able to escape the wreckage. Most of the injured or killed passengers were natives of Nome, Gambell, or Savoonga.[2]
Cause
The cause of the crash, according to the NTSB, was improper IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operation, failure to adhere to instrument approach procedures. The airplane collided with a mountain on a missed approach to landing, after multiple missed approaches. The weather at the airport was below approach minima with a low ceiling and sea fog.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c d Air Disaster, NTSB Report, Wien Air Alaska Fairchild F-27B, N4904, Gambell, St. Lawrence, Alaska.
- ^ Beitler, Stu. Gambell AK Airliner Crashes into hillside, September 1975. Fairbanks News-Miner, 2 September 1975.
- ^ NTSB Report on the Crash
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1975
- Airliner accidents and incidents involving fog
- Airliner accidents and incidents involving controlled flight into terrain
- Accidents and incidents involving the Fairchild F-27
- Airliner accidents and incidents in Alaska
- Wien Air Alaska accidents and incidents
- Nome Census Area, Alaska
- 1975 in Alaska