Alaska Plane Crash Kills All 8 Aboard During Second Landing Attempt in Heavy Fog

CAPE NEWENHAM, Alaska — Eight people were killed when a charter plane crashed near a remote military radar site in western Alaska while attempting to land for a second time in heavy fog, authorities said. 

The twin-engine Cessna 441 Conquest crashed around midday on Thursday, August 20, near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, roughly 450 miles west of Anchorage.

All eight people aboard — two pilots and six passengers — were killed. 

What Happened Before the Crash?

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilots were trying to land at the remote gravel airstrip as visibility deteriorated.

NTSB Alaska region chief Clint Johnson said the pilots could not see the runway and were relying on instruments. Their first approach was aborted because of the lack of visibility.

The aircraft then made another approach.

During that second attempt, the plane lost contact and crashed approximately one-third of a mile from the runway, according to investigators. 

Heavy Fog and Rapidly Changing Conditions

Weather conditions were changing rapidly around the time of the crash.

An automated weather station near the airport reported a low cloud ceiling and fog. Visibility reportedly deteriorated from around 10 miles shortly before the crash to less than one-quarter of a mile in a subsequent observation approximately 15 minutes later. 

However, investigators have not determined that weather caused the crash.

The NTSB investigation remains underway, and the official cause should not be assumed until investigators complete their work.

Who Was On Board?

The aircraft was carrying two pilots and six passengers.

Among the passengers were two employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and four contractors. Two of those contractors worked for Calista Brice, a group of companies that performs construction, engineering and logistics work in remote areas. 

The Army Corps said its employees were part of a project delivery team traveling to a project site in support of the U.S. Air Force.

The aircraft was operated by Anchorage-based charter company Security Aviation, according to authorities. 

A Remote Radar Site

Cape Newenham is an isolated location on Alaska’s southwest coast.

The Long Range Radar Site was originally built during the Cold War and is now part of a network used to monitor aircraft operating in and around Alaska’s airspace.

The site is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center and is visited periodically by civilian contractors performing maintenance and other work. 

The remote location and challenging terrain added another layer of difficulty to the emergency response.

Investigation Underway

Search teams located fragmented wreckage after the aircraft lost contact, according to the NTSB.

Investigators traveled to the site to begin examining the wreckage, flight information, weather conditions and other evidence that could help establish exactly what happened. 

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis described the deaths as a devastating loss and said those aboard were professionals carrying out an important mission in a demanding environment. 

For now, the key question remains unanswered:

What caused the aircraft to go down during its second approach?

The NTSB investigation will ultimately seek to determine the probable cause.

This is a developing story. This article will be updated as investigators release additional verified information.