Elmendorf – Fort Wainwright
Flight / Schedule
Elmendorf – Fort Wainwright
Aircraft
Boeing B-17 Flying FortressRegistration
44-85505
MSN
8414
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
September 10, 1951 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Talkeetna Alaska
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
62.2676°, -150.0295°
Narrative Report
On September 10, 1951 at 12:00 AM, Elmendorf – Fort Wainwright experienced a crash involving Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Talkeetna Alaska.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 14.3%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
Crashed in unknown circumstances ten miles northwest of Talkeetna while on a flight from Elmendorf AFB to Fort Wainwright (Ladd Army Airfield) in Fairbanks. A crew member was killed while six others were injured. The wreckage was removed by Champaign Aviation Museum in July 2011 for use on 44-85813 restoration.
Aircraft reference details include registration 44-85505, MSN 8414, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 62.2676°, -150.0295°.
Fatalities
Total
1
Crew
1
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Crashed in unknown circumstances ten miles northwest of Talkeetna while on a flight from Elmendorf AFB to Fort Wainwright (Ladd Army Airfield) in Fairbanks. A crew member was killed while six others were injured. The wreckage was removed by Champaign Aviation Museum in July 2011 for use on 44-85813 restoration.
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
6
Fatality Rate
14.3%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Elmendorf – Fort Wainwright
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
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.