Narrative:
The flight departed from Anchorage at 00:20. At 02:38 the flight reported that it was over Yakataga, at 6,000 feet, and that it was proceeding in accordance with instrument flight rules to Yakutat, estimating arrival there at 03:20. Twenty-eight minutes later the flight called Yakutat Radio, stating that it was leaving the 6,000-foot altitude and making a straight in approach. The crew received Yakutat weather: Indefinite ceiling, 500-foot overcast visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, temperature and dew point 43 degrees, wind from the east-southeast at 10 miles per hour, altimeter setting 30.17. Yakutat Radio again called the flight at approximately 03:16, requesting that it report the height of the ceiling when it descended into the clear. Nothing more was heard from the flight. The DC-3 descended until the left wing struck a 140-foot spruce tree one mile distant and on a bearing of 70 degrees from the CAA Yakutat Radio station. The airplane crashed and caught fire.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure to follow the approved instrument approach procedures while making an initial approach to Yakutat at an altitude insufficient to clear trees along the flight path."
» CAB File No. 1-0100-47
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 27 November 1947 |
| Time: | 03:17 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Columbia Air Cargo |
| Registration: | NC95486 |
| MSN: | 6065 |
| First flight: | 1942 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3756 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Yakutat, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK (MRI/PAMR), United States of America |
| Yakutat Airport, AK (YAK/PAYA), United States of America |
The flight departed from Anchorage at 00:20. At 02:38 the flight reported that it was over Yakataga, at 6,000 feet, and that it was proceeding in accordance with instrument flight rules to Yakutat, estimating arrival there at 03:20. Twenty-eight minutes later the flight called Yakutat Radio, stating that it was leaving the 6,000-foot altitude and making a straight in approach. The crew received Yakutat weather: Indefinite ceiling, 500-foot overcast visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, temperature and dew point 43 degrees, wind from the east-southeast at 10 miles per hour, altimeter setting 30.17. Yakutat Radio again called the flight at approximately 03:16, requesting that it report the height of the ceiling when it descended into the clear. Nothing more was heard from the flight. The DC-3 descended until the left wing struck a 140-foot spruce tree one mile distant and on a bearing of 70 degrees from the CAA Yakutat Radio station. The airplane crashed and caught fire.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure to follow the approved instrument approach procedures while making an initial approach to Yakutat at an altitude insufficient to clear trees along the flight path."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 47)» CAB File No. 1-0100-47
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK to Yakutat Airport, AK as the crow flies is 586 km (366 miles).
Distance from Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK to Yakutat Airport, AK as the crow flies is 586 km (366 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2557th loss
- 830th fatal accident
- 166th worst accident (at the time)
- 408th worst accident (currently)
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