Nome - Selawik - Ambler

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.

Flight / Schedule

Nome - Selawik - Ambler

Registration

N37MN

MSN

558

Year of Manufacture

1977

Date

April 7, 1983 at 02:56 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight 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

Flight 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

Registration

N37MN

MSN

558

Year of Manufacture

1977