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Wien Air Alaska Flight 99

Coordinates: 63°45′54″N 171°42′30″W / 63.76500°N 171.70833°W / 63.76500; -171.70833
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Wien Air Alaska
Flight 99
Accident
Date30 August 1975
SummaryControlled flight into terrain in Fog, Pilot error,
WebsiteGambell, Alaska
63°45′54″N 171°42′30″W / 63.76500°N 171.70833°W / 63.76500; -171.70833
Aircraft
Aircraft typeFairchild F-27B
OperatorWien Air Alaska
RegistrationN4904
Flight originNome, Alaska
1st stopoverSavoonga, Alaska
DestinationGambell Airport Gambell, Alaska
Passengers28
Crew4
Fatalities10
Injuries22
Survivors22

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 onboard, 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 August 30, 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 the NDB at Gambell on 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.[1]

After impact, the plane broke apart and was propelled up the mountain approximately 132 feet, 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 minimums with a low ceiling and sea fog.[3][1]

References