A small aircraft crashed at a remote military site in western Alaska, resulting in the tragic deaths of all eight occupants aboard. The incident occurred during the plane’s second attempt to land on the gravel airstrip amidst heavy fog, leading to a loss of communication, officials revealed on Friday. The aircraft, a Cessna, was being guided solely by instruments as the pilots struggled to locate the airstrip due to poor visibility. The initial landing was aborted in compliance with regulations, but the second landing ended in a fatal crash approximately 500 meters from the runway. The airstrip, surrounded by mountainous terrain, necessitates pilots to rely on GPS and instruments for safe landings, according to 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 employees of Calista Brice, a subsidiary of Calista Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation. The purpose of their mission at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, located around 725 kilometers west of Anchorage, remains undisclosed by the military.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators were en route to the crash site to gather more information. The radar installation, established in the 1950s for early warning purposes during the Cold War, now monitors airspace activities towards Russia, North Korea, and China. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, acknowledging the dedication of the individuals involved in the critical mission under challenging circumstances.
Weather conditions deteriorated as dense fog enveloped the area preceding the crash. Meteorological data indicated a significant drop in visibility from about 16 kilometers to less than 400 meters within a short timeframe. Aviation safety expert Mike O’Donnell suggested that the adverse weather conditions warranted a diversion to an alternative landing site for safety.
The airstrip is situated within a private military facility managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, part of a network of radar sites overseeing aircraft movements in Alaskan airspace. Following its closure in 1983, the Cape Newenham outpost now sees sporadic visits from civilian contractors responsible for system maintenance.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the deceased employees were part of a project team supporting the U.S. Air Force, without elaborating on the specific project details. The flight was operated by Security Aviation, a charter company based in Anchorage, which has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
