1947 — Oct 26, Pan Am Airways Crash, Tamgas Mountain, Annette Island, AK — 18

–18  CAB. Accident Investigation Report. Pan American Airways – Annette Island, Alaska.

–18  Liefer. Broken Wings: Tragedy & Disaster in Alaska Civil Aviation. 2003, p. 83.

Narrative Information

Civil Aeronautics Board: “At approximately 1345, 1 October 26, 1947, Pan American Airways ‘Flight 923, a DC-4, aircraft NC 88920, crashed on the north side of Tamgas Mountain, Annette Island, Alaska. The 13 passengers and crew of 5 were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed…

“Flight 923 departed at 1030 October 26, 1947, from Seattle, Washington, for Juneau, Alaska, with an intermediate stop scheduled at Annette Island. Captain Alf N Monsen flew as pilot and First Officer Laurence A Foster as copilot. The airplane carried 13 passengers including an infant, a crew of five…

“At approximately 1430 the Civil Aeronautics Board was notified, and a search by air, land, and sea was immediately begun. However, adverse weather conditions retarded the search to such a degree that the wreckage was not located until 5 days after the accident October 31, 1947. It was found that the airplane had crashed on the north slope of Tamgas Mountain, approximately 8 miles east of Annette Island Airport and 8 miles east of the south course of the Annette radio range…The aircraft struck the north side of the mountain at an elevation of approximately 3,400 feet, 196 feet below the summit. 3 Rescue parties ascending the mountain were hampered by rain, snow, and fog. The wreckage, scattered over 20,000 square feet, was buried in snow, and 5 to 6 inches of snow fell while the bodies were being removed. Consequently, a detailed examination of the wreckage was impossible until after the summer thaw melted the snow.  In late August, 1948, the time of maximum thaw on Tamgas Mountain, another party reached the wreckage and made a thorough examination….

“There are several possible explanations for this accident. Severe turbulence may have caused a less of control of the airplane. There may have been severe icing which resulted in a loss of control. There are other possible theories, but it remains impossible to explain why the flight was unable to stay on the proper side of the radio range, and why it was flying a heading of 145 degrees. Outside of the fact that severe turbulence and icing conditions existed over Annette through which the flight had to descend, there is no real evidence to support any particular theory for the cause of this accident. Therefore, the probable cause of this accident remains undetermined.”  (CAB. AIR. Pan American Airways – Annette Island, Alaska.)

Sources

Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Pan American Airways – Annette Island, Alaska – October 26, 1947. Washington, DC:  CAB, March 21, 1949. Accessed at:  http://dotlibrary1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_aircraftacc

Liefer, G. P. Broken Wings: Tragedy & Disaster in Alaska Civil Aviation.  Blaine, WA:  Hancock House, 2003.