ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild C-123K Provider N709RR Mount Healy, near Denali National Park, AK
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 1 August 2010
Time:15:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic C123 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Fairchild C-123K Provider
Operator:All West Freight
Registration: N709RR
MSN: 20158
First flight: 1954
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Total:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Mount Healy, near Denali National Park, AK (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Executive
Departure airport:Palmer-Wolf Lake Airport, AK, United States of America
Destination airport:Unalakleet Airport, AK (UNK/PAUN), United States of America
Narrative:
A Fairchild C-123K Provider cargo plane, registered N709RR, was destroyed when it crashed at the southern flanks of Mount Healy, about 2 km from the Denali National Park, AK. The crash started a wildland fire. The three occupants didn't survive the crash.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at the Palmer-Wolf Lake Airport, AK and was destined for Unalakleet Airport (UNK), AK. The purpose of the flight was to transport a large generator to Unalakleet.
Numerous people observed the airplane flying low and slow over the Denali National Park before it entered a steep left bank and then nosedive into the ground. The airplane impacted sloping, wooded terrain adjacent to Park Road, which is the main road into Denali National Park. The airplane collided with numerous standing Spruce trees that were densely situated on the hillside.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid a low altitude stall, resulting in a loss of control and collision with terrain."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 2 months
Accident number: ANC10FA067
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Loss of control

Sources:
» FAA
» Statement from National Park Service (Anchorage Daily News, 1-8-2010)
» Cargo plane crash in Denali Park kills 3 (Anchorage Daily News, 1-8-2010)
» National Park Service identifies aircraft (Anchorage Daily News, 1-8-2010)


Photos

photo of Fairchild-C-123K-Provider-N709RR
accident date: 01-08-2010
type: Fairchild C-123K Provider
registration: N709RR
photo of Fairchild-C-123K-Provider-N709RR
accident date: 01-08-2010
type: Fairchild C-123K Provider
registration: N709RR
photo of Fairchild-C-123K-Provider-N709RR
accident date: 01-08-2010
type: Fairchild C-123K Provider
registration: N709RR
photo of Fairchild-C-123K-Provider-N709RR
accident date: 01-08-2010
type: Fairchild C-123K Provider
registration: N709RR
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Palmer-Wolf Lake Airport, AK to Unalakleet Airport, AK as the crow flies is 631 km (394 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Fairchild C-123

  • 302 built
  • 98th loss
  • 55th fatal accident
  • 44th worst accident
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