Narrative:
General Airways Flight 785 departed Portland at 02:00, destined for Merrill Field, Anchorage with a cargo of produce consisting mainly of crated eggs. A refueling stop was made at Annette, Alaska at 07:09. The flight delayed at Annette for two hours and twenty-two minutes, awaiting improvement of weather conditions at Anchorage. Weather conditions en route included temperatures around -10 degrees C with freezing drizzle. The freezing drizzle changed to snow at about 09:05, and the pilots made preparations to continue the flight. Flight 785 departed Annette at 09:31. Flight 785 reported by Cape Spencer at 11:47, 9,000 feet, estimating over Yakutat at 12:45. This was the last radio contact with N21748. The wreckage was located the next day on the side of Mount Crillon about 30 miles from the center of Amber Airway No. 1, on a bearing of 36 degrees and 46 miles from Cape Spencer intersection.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Deviation from the planned route due to improper navigation of the flight."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 12 January 1952 |
| Time: | 11:50 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | General Airways |
| Registration: | N41718 |
| MSN: | 11827 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8546 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Mt Crillon, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Annette Island Airport, AK (ANN/PANT), United States of America |
| Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK (MRI/PAMR), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 785 |
General Airways Flight 785 departed Portland at 02:00, destined for Merrill Field, Anchorage with a cargo of produce consisting mainly of crated eggs. A refueling stop was made at Annette, Alaska at 07:09. The flight delayed at Annette for two hours and twenty-two minutes, awaiting improvement of weather conditions at Anchorage. Weather conditions en route included temperatures around -10 degrees C with freezing drizzle. The freezing drizzle changed to snow at about 09:05, and the pilots made preparations to continue the flight. Flight 785 departed Annette at 09:31. Flight 785 reported by Cape Spencer at 11:47, 9,000 feet, estimating over Yakutat at 12:45. This was the last radio contact with N21748. The wreckage was located the next day on the side of Mount Crillon about 30 miles from the center of Amber Airway No. 1, on a bearing of 36 degrees and 46 miles from Cape Spencer intersection.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Deviation from the planned route due to improper navigation of the flight."
Accident investigation:
 |
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Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-0003Photos
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 Annette Island Airport, AK to Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK as the crow flies is 1258 km (786 miles).
Distance from Annette Island Airport, AK to Anchorage-Merrill Field, AK as the crow flies is 1258 km (786 miles).
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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