A charter plane crashed into a remote Alaska military airstrip on Aug. 20, killing all eight people on board after a second approach in thick fog. The impact occurred just minutes after the pilots lost visual contact with the ground.
NTSB Details Second Approach
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the aircraft, a Cessna Conquest 441 operated by Security Aviation, was on its second attempt to land. Visibility dropped to near zero as the pilots navigated by instruments.
The crash occurred near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west of Anchorage, and killed all eight occupants. The impact struck the gravel runway.
NTSB Alaska region chief Clint Johnson said the pilots missed the first approach, forcing a go‑around that relied solely on instruments. The missed approach left them without visual reference to the ground.
They lost contact with Anchorage controllers during the second attempt and the plane impacted the gravel runway roughly one‑third of a mile from the threshold. The aircraft went down just minutes after losing radio communication.
The flight departed Anchorage at 9:15 a.m., crashed at 11:45 a.m., and carried two Security Aviation pilots, two Army Corps of Engineers members, and four contractors whose identities remain undisclosed. The mission was a routine transport to the remote radar site.
An NTSB investigation team mobilized on Friday to the remote site. Teams were en route to begin a thorough on‑scene examination.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, called the loss devastating for the military family and the communities served. He emphasized the sacrifice of the dedicated professionals aboard.
He pledged unwavering support for families, thanked search and recovery teams, and highlighted the professionalism of those aboard. The statement underscored the gravity of the tragedy.
The Army Corps of Engineers contracted the aircraft; its two employees were part of a project delivery team supporting Air Force operations, while the four contractors joined the mission.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has flown with Security Aviation crews, praised the rapid response of the Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and Rescue Coordination Center. She expressed gratitude for the coordinated effort.
She posted on social media that Alaska is praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the Security Aviation team. The message highlighted the community’s solidarity.
The radar site, built in the 1950s as part of a Cold War early‑warning network, now monitors airspace toward Russia, North Korea and China. Its long‑range capability continues to track threats from the region.
Alaskan Command said the airstrip is a private military facility managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center and forms part of a network tracking aircraft across Alaska’s airspace and borders. The network provides critical surveillance for national security.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
