A tragic incident occurred when a plane crashed at a secluded military site in western Alaska, resulting in the loss of all eight individuals on board. According to authorities, the aircraft was attempting its second landing in heavy fog when communication was abruptly lost. Clint Johnson, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Alaska region chief, revealed during a virtual press briefing that the Cessna’s two pilots were navigating solely by instruments as visibility was severely limited, leading to the crash around midday on Thursday.
The initial landing attempt had to be aborted due to poor visibility, as per regulations, and tragically, the plane went down on its second approach, approximately 500 meters from the airstrip. The runway is enclosed by mountainous terrain on three sides, prompting the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to recommend pilots utilize GPS and other instruments during landings.
The passengers aboard the ill-fated flight included the two pilots, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel, and four contractors. Notably, two of the contractors were affiliated with Calista Brice, a group of companies engaged in construction, engineering, logistics, and related activities in remote regions. Calista Brice operates as a subsidiary of Calista Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation.
Details regarding the tasks being carried out at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, situated about 725 kilometers west of Anchorage on Alaska’s southwest coast, have not been disclosed by the military.
NTSB investigators are en route to the crash site to gather more information. The radar station, established in the 1950s as part of a defense network against potential missile threats, now serves as a monitoring point for activities in the airspace towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
Acknowledging the dedication of the individuals involved, U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis, head of Alaskan Command, expressed sorrow over the tragic incident, emphasizing the essential nature of their mission in a challenging environment.
Thursday witnessed rapidly changing weather conditions as heavy fog enveloped the vicinity. Reports from an automated observation system indicated deteriorating visibility levels before the crash, with meteorological data showing a significant reduction in visibility post-incident.
Mike O’Donnell, a former FAA official overseeing airport safety programs and accident inquiries, remarked that the weather conditions appeared severe enough to warrant a diversion to an alternate landing site.
The airstrip is part of a privately managed military installation overseen by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, integral to the network of remote radar sites monitoring aircraft movements in Alaska’s airspace and border regions.
Initially established in 1983, the Cape Newenham outpost has seen sporadic visits by civilian contractors tasked with system maintenance following the installation of a new radar. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the deceased employees were part of a team supporting a U.S. Air Force project, without divulging further specifics.
The flight was conducted by Security Aviation, headquartered in Anchorage, as mentioned by Johnson. Attempts to reach the charter company for comments were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.