A tragic incident occurred when a plane crashed at a secluded military location in western Alaska, claiming the lives of all eight individuals on board. According to authorities, the aircraft was attempting its second landing on the runway amidst dense fog when communication was lost. The Cessna’s pilots were navigating solely by instruments due to poor visibility, as mentioned by Clint Johnson, the head of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Alaska.
The pilots had to abandon their initial landing endeavor due to the foggy conditions, as per regulations, and tragically, the plane crashed during the second landing attempt, approximately 500 meters from the airstrip. The challenging terrain surrounding the runway, with mountains on three sides, necessitates pilots to rely on GPS and other instruments for safe landings, as advised by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Among the passengers were the two pilots, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel, and four contractors. Two of the contractors were affiliated with Calista Brice, a group of companies engaged in construction, engineering, and logistics services in remote regions. Calista Brice operates under Calista Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation.
The purpose of the individuals’ mission at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, situated about 725 kilometers west of Anchorage on Alaska’s southwest coast, has not been disclosed by the military.
NTSB investigators were en route to the crash site for further examination. The radar site, initially established in the 1950s as part of a defense network against potential missile threats, now serves to monitor airspace towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis expressed sorrow over the tragic loss, describing those on board as dedicated professionals fulfilling a crucial task in a challenging environment. The weather conditions on the day of the crash were unstable, characterized by heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility.
The private military airstrip, managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, forms part of a network of radar sites monitoring aircraft movements in Alaskan airspace and along its borders. The Cape Newenham outpost, inactive since 1983 following radar upgrades, is sporadically visited by civilian contractors for maintenance purposes.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the deceased employees were part of a project team supporting a U.S. Air Force initiative, without specifying further details. The flight was operated by Security Aviation, a company based in Anchorage, although they have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the tragic incident.
