Broken Wings Content

An account of Russel Merrill's career in Alaska, detailing his disappearance on September 16, 1929 and the resulting aerial search spanning over 10,000 square miles. The aircraft and Merrill's body were never recovered.

The story of Carl Ben Eielson, covering his disappearance on November 9, 1929, while flying near the North Cape of Siberia in relief of a stranded fur ship. One of the largest searches of that era ensued, involving several countries over a three month period.

The facts behind the last flight of Canada's most renowned bush pilot, who perished after being stranded in the wilderness on October 11, 1930. Details of the resulting search, the crash of several other aircraft involved in the effort, and the death of a fellow search pilot are also covered.

A detailed account of the tragic aircraft accident near Point Barrow in 1935, ending the lives of a world famous aviator and a beloved humorist. Possible theories for the crash from several sources are discussed.

Chronicles the career of Harold Gillam and the crash of his plane in 1943 near Ketchikan. His ensuing death while seeking rescue, the incredible survival of the passengers, and the search for his missing plane are covered in detail.

A description of the events involving the disappearance of a Pacific Alaska Air Express DC-3 near Yakutat in November 1948. No evidence of the aircraft or its seventeen occupants was ever found.

The unexplained loss of a second commercial airliner near Yakutat, with thirty-seven people in July 1951. An intensive search over a several month period failed to locate any signs of the Canadian Pacific Air Lines DC-4.

An account of the strange disappearance of wildlife official Clarence Rhode in 1958. His Grumman Goose vanished in the Brooks Range with two other occupants, only to be found twenty-one years later by a pair of hikers. The search at the time was one of the largest in Alaska history.

No other missing aircraft has caused more controversy than the Cessna 310 carrying two U.S. Congressmen in October 1972. Details of the flight, the intense search and some interesting theories are discussed.

The circumstances involving the crash of a Pan American DC-4 near Ketchikan in October 1947, resulting in the death of all eighteen people on board. An exact cause of the tragedy could never be determined.

An explanation of facts concerning a Columbia Air Cargo DC-3, which crashed and burned on approach into Yakutat in November 1947. All thirteen occupants were killed.

In January 1952, a General Airways cargo DC-3 strayed thirty miles off course and crashed into the coastal mountains near Yakutat. The crew was killed instantly. An explanation for the navigation error could never be explained.

An account of the crash of a Northwest Airlines DC-7 off Annette Island in June, 1963. All one hundred and one occupants perished in the disaster. No known cause was ever determined.

The facts concerning the Alaska Airlines 727 crash near Juneau in September 1971. It was the worst airline disaster in Alaska history and one of the largest in U.S. civil aviation. All of the one hundred and eleven occupants were killed when the aircraft descended below the instrument approach altitude and crashed in the Chilkat Mountains.

A Grumman Goose carrying twelve people was destroyed when it impacted the water and sank in July 1978 near Wrangell. There were no survivors. The aircraft was never recovered and no substantial cause was found.

The crash of a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-6 in August 1956. Fifteen of the twenty-two occupants perished from the impact and ensuing fire. Crew error was highly suspected.

A Reeve Aleutian Airways C-54 hit the side of Great Sitkin Island while on approach into Adak in September 1959. All the passengers and crew were killed on impact. The airline captain had been falsifying his medical records and was not qualified for flight duty.

While on approach into Shemya in July 1961, an Alaska Airlines DC-6 descended below the instrument glide path and crashed short of the runway. The impact and resulting fire completely destroyed the aircraft. There were no survivors.

Extreme turbulence was the cause of an in-flight wing separation on a Wien Consolidated Airlines aircraft in December 1968. All of the thirty-six passengers and three crewmembers died when the Fairchild F-27 crashed near Iliamna.

The account of the World Airways DC-8 crash near Cold Bay in September 1973. Confusion and erroneous cockpit indications caused the airliner to hit a mountain near the airfield, killing everyone onboard.

In September 1977, a DeHavilland Twin Otter carrying thirteen people diverted off course while enroute to Anchorage, impacting Mt. Iliamna at the 7,000 foot level. There were no survivors. A series of errors involving the aircraft, crew and ground navigational aids were suspected, but never confirmed.

A Northwest Airlines DC-4 impacted the 8,500 foot slope of Mt. Sanford in March 1948, scattering wreckage over a remote glacier below the crash site. The thirty occupants were instantly killed. Rumors of a mysterious cargo of gold bullion spawned numerous attempts to reach the wreckage over the next fifty years.

The crew of an Alaska Airlines DC-3 ignored in-flight procedures while enroute from Homer to Anchorage in January 1949. Five of the six occupants received fatal injuries when the aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain. Improper navigation and a violation of night requirements were suspected.

In June 1960, a Pacific Northern Airlines aircraft abruptly diverted from its instrument route, impacting Mt. Gilbert near Prince William Sound. There were no survivors. A system malfunction and lack of adequate crew navigation could never be verified.

While departing from Anchorage in November 1970, a Capital International DC-8 crashed and burned near the departure end of the runway. Forty-seven of the two hundred and twenty-nine occupants were killed in the ensuing fire. Several new safety regulations were implemented for commercial airliners following the accident.

A Japanese Airlines DC-8 stalled after liftoff from the Anchorage airport in January 1977. The aircraft was completely destroyed, fatally injuring the crew and cargo of live cattle. An alcohol level over twice the legal limit was found during an autopsy of the captain's body.

In November 1987, a Beech 1900 belonging to Ryan Air Service crashed on approach into Homer, killing eighteen of the twenty-one people on board. A history of maintenance and policy violations by the company were revealed.

A loss of visual references caused the crash of a Pan American Airways plane near Nome, in April 1944. All six occupants were instantly killed. One of the victims was Fred Moller, a well known figure in Alaska aviation, who was on his last flight with the company at the time.

The account of a Transocean Air Lines C-46 cargo aircraft, which crashed in December 1951 near Fairbanks. All four occupants perished when the crew became disoriented, causing the aircraft to fly off the instrument airway. High winds and a lack of instrument training were probable factors.

In August 1975, a Wien Air Alaska F-27 crew continued flying visually in marginal weather while attempting to land. Numerous landing attempts were made in violation of company policy before the aircraft impacted a mountain near the airfield. Ten of the thirty-two occupants sustained fatal injuries, while others barely managed to escape from the burning wreckage.

A Northern Air Cargo DC-6 had an in-flight engine fire while enroute from a coastal village to Anchorage in July 1996. The crew failed to perform the correct emergency procedure, resulting in structural failure and the subsequent crash of the aircraft. There were no survivors.


	\| home Links to Aviation Accident Internet Web Sites \| Broken Wings Content Broken Wings Content THE PIONEERS Dauntless Spirit An account of Russel Merrill's career in Alaska, detailing his disappearance on September 16, 1929 and the resulting aerial search spanning over 10,000 square miles. The aircraft and Merrill's body were never recovered. Legend of the Arctic The story of Carl Ben Eielson, covering his disappearance on November 9, 1929, while flying near the North Cape of Siberia in relief of a stranded fur ship. One of the largest searches of that era ensued, involving several countries over a three month period. The Search for Paddy Burke and Pat Renahan The facts behind the last flight of Canada's most renowned bush pilot, who perished after being stranded in the wilderness on October 11, 1930. Details of the resulting search, the crash of several other aircraft involved in the effort, and the death of a fellow search pilot are also covered. Wiley Post and Will Rogers A detailed account of the tragic aircraft accident near Point Barrow in 1935, ending the lives of a world famous aviator and a beloved humorist. Possible theories for the crash from several sources are discussed. His Luck Ran Out Chronicles the career of Harold Gillam and the crash of his plane in 1943 near Ketchikan. His ensuing death while seeking rescue, the incredible survival of the passengers, and the search for his missing plane are covered in detail. MISSING Missing near Yakutat A description of the events involving the disappearance of a Pacific Alaska Air Express DC-3 near Yakutat in November 1948. No evidence of the aircraft or its seventeen occupants was ever found. Lost Off Cape Spencer The unexplained loss of a second commercial airliner near Yakutat, with thirty-seven people in July 1951. An intensive search over a several month period failed to locate any signs of the Canadian Pacific Air Lines DC-4. Lost and Found An account of the strange disappearance of wildlife official Clarence Rhode in 1958. His Grumman Goose vanished in the Brooks Range with two other occupants, only to be found twenty-one years later by a pair of hikers. The search at the time was one of the largest in Alaska history. The Disappearance of Boggs and Begich No other missing aircraft has caused more controversy than the Cessna 310 carrying two U.S. Congressmen in October 1972. Details of the flight, the intense search and some interesting theories are discussed. SOUTHEAST PANHANDLE Crash on Tamgas Mountain The circumstances involving the crash of a Pan American DC-4 near Ketchikan in October 1947, resulting in the death of all eighteen people on board. An exact cause of the tragedy could never be determined. Final Approach An explanation of facts concerning a Columbia Air Cargo DC-3, which crashed and burned on approach into Yakutat in November 1947. All thirteen occupants were killed. Impact on Mt. Crillon In January 1952, a General Airways cargo DC-3 strayed thirty miles off course and crashed into the coastal mountains near Yakutat. The crew was killed instantly. An explanation for the navigation error could never be explained. Disaster at 14,000 Feet An account of the crash of a Northwest Airlines DC-7 off Annette Island in June, 1963. All one hundred and one occupants perished in the disaster. No known cause was ever determined. Tragedy Near Juneau The facts concerning the Alaska Airlines 727 crash near Juneau in September 1971. It was the worst airline disaster in Alaska history and one of the largest in U.S. civil aviation. All of the one hundred and eleven occupants were killed when the aircraft descended below the instrument approach altitude and crashed in the Chilkat Mountains. Wreckage in Sumner Strait A Grumman Goose carrying twelve people was destroyed when it impacted the water and sank in July 1978 near Wrangell. There were no survivors. The aircraft was never recovered and no substantial cause was found. SOUTHWEST PENINSULA and the ALEUTIANS Circling Approach at Cold Bay The crash of a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-6 in August 1956. Fifteen of the twenty-two occupants perished from the impact and ensuing fire. Crew error was highly suspected. Great Sitkin Island A Reeve Aleutian Airways C-54 hit the side of Great Sitkin Island while on approach into Adak in September 1959. All the passengers and crew were killed on impact. The airline captain had been falsifying his medical records and was not qualified for flight duty. Below the Glide Path While on approach into Shemya in July 1961, an Alaska Airlines DC-6 descended below the instrument glide path and crashed short of the runway. The impact and resulting fire completely destroyed the aircraft. There were no survivors. Descent Over Pedro Bay Extreme turbulence was the cause of an in-flight wing separation on a Wien Consolidated Airlines aircraft in December 1968. All of the thirty-six passengers and three crewmembers died when the Fairchild F-27 crashed near Iliamna. Low and Off Course The account of the World Airways DC-8 crash near Cold Bay in September 1973. Confusion and erroneous cockpit indications caused the airliner to hit a mountain near the airfield, killing everyone onboard. An Accumulation of Errors In September 1977, a DeHavilland Twin Otter carrying thirteen people diverted off course while enroute to Anchorage, impacting Mt. Iliamna at the 7,000 foot level. There were no survivors. A series of errors involving the aircraft, crew and ground navigational aids were suspected, but never confirmed. SOUTHCENTRAL REGION Fire on the Mountain and A Tale of Lost Gold A Northwest Airlines DC-4 impacted the 8,500 foot slope of Mt. Sanford in March 1948, scattering wreckage over a remote glacier below the crash site. The thirty occupants were instantly killed. Rumors of a mysterious cargo of gold bullion spawned numerous attempts to reach the wreckage over the next fifty years. Without Warning The crew of an Alaska Airlines DC-3 ignored in-flight procedures while enroute from Homer to Anchorage in January 1949. Five of the six occupants received fatal injuries when the aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain. Improper navigation and a violation of night requirements were suspected. A Tomb of Ice In June 1960, a Pacific Northern Airlines aircraft abruptly diverted from its instrument route, impacting Mt. Gilbert near Prince William Sound. There were no survivors. A system malfunction and lack of adequate crew navigation could never be verified. Unforeseen Circumstances While departing from Anchorage in November 1970, a Capital International DC-8 crashed and burned near the departure end of the runway. Forty-seven of the two hundred and twenty-nine occupants were killed in the ensuing fire. Several new safety regulations were implemented for commercial airliners following the accident. A Matter of Intoxication A Japanese Airlines DC-8 stalled after liftoff from the Anchorage airport in January 1977. The aircraft was completely destroyed, fatally injuring the crew and cargo of live cattle. An alcohol level over twice the legal limit was found during an autopsy of the captain's body. An Accident Waiting to Happen In November 1987, a Beech 1900 belonging to Ryan Air Service crashed on approach into Homer, killing eighteen of the twenty-one people on board. A history of maintenance and policy violations by the company were revealed. INTERIOR and WESTERN REGION Whiteout A loss of visual references caused the crash of a Pan American Airways plane near Nome, in April 1944. All six occupants were instantly killed. One of the victims was Fred Moller, a well known figure in Alaska aviation, who was on his last flight with the company at the time. Trust Your Instruments The account of a Transocean Air Lines C-46 cargo aircraft, which crashed in December 1951 near Fairbanks. All four occupants perished when the crew became disoriented, causing the aircraft to fly off the instrument airway. High winds and a lack of instrument training were probable factors. VFR in Instrument Conditions In August 1975, a Wien Air Alaska F-27 crew continued flying visually in marginal weather while attempting to land. Numerous landing attempts were made in violation of company policy before the aircraft impacted a mountain near the airfield. Ten of the thirty-two occupants sustained fatal injuries, while others barely managed to escape from the burning wreckage. Russian Mission A Northern Air Cargo DC-6 had an in-flight engine fire while enroute from a coastal village to Anchorage in July 1996. The crew failed to perform the correct emergency procedure, resulting in structural failure and the subsequent crash of the aircraft. There were no survivors. BACK TO TOP