Kenai - King Salmon

On July 14, 1981 at 05:39 PM, Kenai - King Salmon experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Aero Union, with the event recorded near Kenai Alaska.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. After takeoff from Kenai Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 2,000 feet, the engine n°1 caught fire and exploded. The crew declared an emergency and elected to return to Kenai when a part of the left wing detached. Out of control, the airplane crashed in a pasture and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All three occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N3373F, MSN 36061, year of manufacture 1945.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 60.5544°, -151.2583°.