Date:	Saturday 20 July 1996
Time:	15:06
Type:	Douglas DC-6A
Owner/operator:	Northern Air Cargo
Registration:	N313RS
MSN:	44663/630
Year of manufacture:	1955
Total airframe hrs:	38248 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB3
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Russian Mission, AK (RSH) -   United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Emmonak Airport, AK (EMK/PAEM)
Destination airport:	Aniak Airport, AK (ANI/PANI)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The DC-6 cargo plane departed Emmonak at 14:10 for a flight to Aniak. At 14:55 the no. 3 engine caught fire and the fire handles were pulled. The captain then ordered the propeller the be feathered. At 14:57 the first officer confirms that number 3 actually feathered, but said they were still indicating a fire. The captain then decided to carry out an emergency landing at Holy Cross. While the captain was preparing the airplane for landing the first officer stated that the fire is starting to go out. METO power was applied and the captain remarked that if the fire is out he would rather not land at Holy Cross. The fire warning bell sounded again at 14:59 and smoke began entering the cockpit. An approach was made to Russian Mission and the aircraft passed over the airport at 300-400 feet and was later seen turning to finals when the right wing folded upward. The aircraft rolled to the right and nosed down into the ground, short of runway 35.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Fatigue failure of the master connecting rod, which originated from corrosion pitting, subsequently compromised the engine crankcase, and resulted in a fire; and failure of the flight crew to follow emergency procedures by pulling the fire handle before feathering the propeller, which diminished the effectiveness of the fire suppression system. "

ICAO Adrep Summary 5/96 (#46)
NTSB ANC96FA102
Scramble 210

photo (c) Rolf Larsson; Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC); 22 May 1989

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