SA-345 File No 1-0059
CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT
ADOPTED August 23 , 1960 RELEASED: August 30, 1960
REEVE ALFUTIAN AIRWAYS, INC., GREAT SITKIN ISLAND
ALFUTIAN CHAIN, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 24, 1959
SYNOPSIS
On September 24, 1959, at approximately 1717 A.s.t., a Douglas C-5LB-DC, N 63396, operated by Reeve Aleutian Airways, Inc., as Flight 3, crashed into the northeast side of Great Satkin Island killing all 16 persons on board.
Flight 3 was a scheduled flight between Anchorage and Shemya, with inter- mediate stops at Cold Bay and Adak, Alaska. A routine takeoff was made at Cold Bay, and all en route radio reporting points were made to the company within two or three minutes of their estimated times. At 1650 A.s.t., the flight reported that it was 100 miles northeast of Adak, at 4,500 feet, on top and in the clear. Flight 3 then estimated it would be over the Adak low frequency range at 1725 A.s.t. The flight was cleared to the Adak low frequency range, to maintain VFR on top, and to call Adak approach control when 30 miles out for landing instructions. At 1715 A.s.t., the flight advised the company it was canceling its IPR flight plan and was proceeding VFR. Two minutes later Flight 3 attempted to communicate with Adak approach control. Upon hearing this message, approach control called the flight but was unsuccessful. It was later determined that the aircraft had crashed on Great Sitkin Island and that there were no survivors.
This accident occurred as a result of the pilot's failure to maintain flight in accordance with visual flight rules over hazardous terrain.
Investigation
Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 3 of September 24, 1959, was scheduled between Anchorage and Shemya, Alaska, with intermediate stops at Cold Bay and Adak. The flight was to remain overnight at Adak. The crew consisted of Captain Eugene 0. Strouse, First Officer Robert 1. Pollom, Flight Engineer Brian D. Green, and Stewardesses Elizabeth A. Burke and Lorraine A. Henderson.
Prior to departing Anchorage Captain Strouse reviewed the available enroute weather data, including winds aloft and all forecasts. The forecast weather from Sequan Island to Adak for the time the flight was estimated to fly this segment was for west to northwest winds 10 to 20 knots; scattered clouds at 1,000 feet; ceiling 2,500 feet broken to overcast; occasional moderate turbulence; occasional light rain or drizzle; and a freezing level between 4,500 and 5,500 feet m.s.1. The tops of all clouds were forecast to be 5,000 feet. A copy of this weather data was attached to the flight plan.
