A tragic incident occurred in western Alaska when a plane crashed at a remote military site, resulting in the loss of all eight individuals on board. The aircraft was attempting its second runway approach amidst heavy fog when communication was lost, according to authorities. The two pilots of the Cessna were relying solely on instruments due to poor visibility, as mentioned by Clint Johnson, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s Alaska region chief during a virtual news briefing.
Following regulations, the pilots had to abort their initial landing due to the lack of visibility. Tragically, the plane crashed during its second landing attempt, approximately 500 meters away from the airstrip, which is enclosed by mountainous terrain on three sides. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advises pilots to utilize GPS and instruments for safe landings at this location.
Among the passengers were the two pilots, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel, and four contractors. Notably, two of the contractors were employees of Calista Brice, a group of companies specializing in construction, engineering, logistics, and operations in remote regions. Calista Brice is affiliated with Calista Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation.
Details regarding the specific 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 further information. The radar site, established in the 1950s to serve as part of a defense network against potential missile threats, now primarily monitors airspace towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
Expressing condolences, U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis described the individuals on board as dedicated professionals engaged in a critical mission within a challenging environment. The tragic incident has deeply impacted the military community and the regions it serves.
Weather conditions were rapidly changing on the day of the crash, with heavy fog enveloping the area. Data from an automated observation system nearby indicated low cloud cover, fog, and visibility of around 16 kilometers just before the accident. However, visibility sharply decreased to less than 400 meters in the subsequent update, noted Carrie Haisley, the meteorologist overseeing the U.S. National Weather Service’s Alaska sector operations center.
Mike O’Donnell, with significant experience in airport safety and accident investigations at the FAA, suggested that the adverse weather conditions likely warranted a diversion to an alternate landing site.
The airstrip is located within a private military facility managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center. This facility, part of a network of remote radar sites, tracks aircraft movements in Alaska’s airspace and along its borders, according to the Alaskan Command statement.
Originally closed in 1983 after a radar upgrade, 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 team supporting a U.S. Air Force project, without providing further specifics.
The flight was conducted by Security Aviation, a charter company based in Anchorage, as confirmed by Johnson. At the time of reporting, Security Aviation had not responded to requests for comment.
