1955 — Sep 1, USAF C-47 crash/burned, emergency landing attempt, Skwentna, AK–all 12

–12 AP. “12 Killed in Crash Near Anchorage.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. 9-2-1955, p1.
–12 Aviation Safety Network. “Database.” USAF Douglas VC-47D approach crash 1 Sep 1955.
–12 NFPA. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires.” Quarterly, V.49, N.4, Apr 1956, p. 395.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: Thursday 1 September 1955
“Type: Douglas VC-47D (DC-3)
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 45-893
“MSN: 34153 – 16896
“First flight: 1945
“Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
“Passengers: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
“Total: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
….
“Location: 1.6 km (1 mls) W of Skwentna, AK (United States of America)
“Departure airport: Anchorage-Elmendorf AFB, AK
“Destination airport: Nome Airport, AK
“Narrative:

“The VC-47A transport plane operated on a cargo-personnel flight from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. The airplane crashed as it reportedly tried to divert to Skwentna Airstrip following engine problems.”

National Fire Protection Association: “Sept. 1, Skwentna, Alaska. U.S. Air Force C-47 crashed and burned in attempted emergency landing….12 killed.”

Newspaper

Sep 2, AP: “Anchorage, Sept. 2, (AP) – An air force C-47 crashed on a flight to Nome last night and 12 aboard were believed to have been killed. The air force reported the twin-engined plane crashed with a crew of five and seven passengers in an isolated area bout 65 miles north of Anchorage. The plane had taken off from Elmendorf air force base here on the 500-mile flight to Nome. The passengers were reported to have been air force personnel.

“The crash scene was about a mile from the outlying Skwentna air strip. Reports to the air force here were that the plane developed engine trouble after passing over Skwentna at 11,000 feet.

“The plane, of the 5039th Base Flight squadron at Elmendorf, was on a cargo-personnel lift to Nome, on the west coast. The air force said two rescue planes tried to reach the scene last night but were turned back when weather conditions prevented a landing at Skwentna. Other planes left today with rescue personnel.

“The air force said reports from the civil aeronautics administration station at the isolated post indicated the wreckage continued to burn early today.

“The rugged region is marked by numerous peaks close to 4,000 feet high and is to the north of a range rising 8,000 to 9,000 feet.” (Associated Press. “12 Killed in Crash Near Anchorage.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. 9-2-1955, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “12 Killed in Crash Near Anchorage.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK. 9-2-1955, p. 1. Accessed 4-9-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-sep-02-1955-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. “Database.” USAF Douglas VC-47D (DC-3) approach crash, 1 Sep 1955, near Skwentna, AK. Accessed 4-9-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19550901-0

National Fire Protection Association. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires.” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, p. 395.