Nome - Selawik - Ambler
Flight / Schedule
Nome - Selawik - Ambler
Aircraft
Britten-Norman IslanderRegistration
N37MN
MSN
558
Year of Manufacture
1977
Operator
Munz Northern AirlinesDate
April 7, 1983 at 02:56 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Selawik Alaska
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
66.6024°, -160.0113°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On April 7, 1983 at 02:56 PM, Nome - Selawik - Ambler experienced a crash involving Britten-Norman Islander, operated by Munz Northern Airlines, with the event recorded near Selawik Alaska.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.
Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. According to the FAA specialist on duty at the Nome flight service station the pilot of Munz Northern flight 601 requested only the Ambler weather at 0030 gmt. The only surviving passenger stated that the flight departed Nome, AK at 1330 bst and as the flight continued north she could only see straight down and was nervous because the ground was so close. She further stated that the props changed their sound which related to the sound they made earlier in the flight when the aircraft climbed to clear a mountain. She also added that they were in whiteout conditions prior to impact and there were no mechanical irregularities that she was aware of. The pilot and a passenger were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration N37MN, MSN 558, year of manufacture 1977.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 66.6024°, -160.0113°.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
1
Passengers
1
Other
0
Crash Summary
According to the FAA specialist on duty at the Nome flight service station the pilot of Munz Northern flight 601 requested only the Ambler weather at 0030 gmt. The only surviving passenger stated that the flight departed Nome, AK at 1330 bst and as the flight continued north she could only see straight down and was nervous because the ground was so close. She further stated that the props changed their sound which related to the sound they made earlier in the flight when the aircraft climbed to clear a mountain. She also added that they were in whiteout conditions prior to impact and there were no mechanical irregularities that she was aware of. The pilot and a passenger were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
1
Passengers On Board
2
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
66.7%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Nome - Selawik - Ambler
Operator
Munz Northern AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
U.S. Air Mail Service
De Havilland DH.4
Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.
