Sitka – Pelican – Hoonah – Juneau

On November 4, 1954 at 01:10 PM, Sitka – Pelican – Hoonah – Juneau experienced a crash involving Grumman G-44 Widgeon, operated by Alaska Coastal Airlines, with the event recorded near Pelican Alaska.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. Flight 60 originated at Sitka, Alaska, with stops scheduled at Pelican City, Hoonah, and Juneau, the destination. Before departure from Sitka, the dispatcher in Juneau issued clearance for the flight to proceed DVFR (Defense Visual Flight Rules) to Hoonah and wait, if necessary, at that station for weather to improve in the Juneau area. The flight plan indicated estimated time from Sitka to Juneau, including stops, would be two hours and fifty minutes. Fuel consumption was estimated at 60 gallons, with 20 gallons re-serve upon arrival at Juneau. Gross weight of all disposable load at takeoff was 1,401 pounds, 30 less than the maximum allowable. The flight departed Sitka at 1153 with Captain James C. Rinehart (pilot), four passengers, cargo, mail, and baggage. The route between Sitka and Pelican City follows the North Pacific shore. The flight landed at Pelican City at 1235. Two passengers deplaned and 88 pounds of baggage, mail, and cargo were taken off; 159 pounds of cargo were added. The aircraft was not refueled. The pilot reported by radio that the flight departed Pelican City at 1305 en route to Hoonah. This was the last radio contact. When the flight became overdue at Hoonah, search operations were instituted. The Coast Guard was notified at 1655 and began search. At approximately 0800 the following morning, the pilot of a private aircraft located the wreckage in a mountain pass several miles southeast of Pelican City. A Coast Guard and civilian ground rescue party arrived the afternoon of November 5, rendered first aid to the two passengers, and stayed until the survivors and the body of the pilot were evacuated by helicopter on November 6.

Aircraft reference details include registration N67794, MSN 1321, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 57.9572°, -136.2207°.