JUNEAU, Alaska — In a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it has been revealed that a fatal commuter plane crash in Alaska involved an aircraft that was over its intended weight limit by approximately half a ton. This incident resulted in the loss of all 10 individuals on board. However, Clint Johnson, who is in charge of NTSB’s Alaska region, emphasized that this is merely a “data point” in their ongoing investigation. Determining the probable cause of aviation accidents can often take a year or longer following an incident.
The tragedy occurred on February 6 when a Bering Air flight crashed on sea ice. This event marked one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Alaska in recent years and followed closely on the heels of two other significant aviation disasters in the United States. Just days before, a commercial jet and an Army helicopter collided over the Potomac River, and a medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia.
Small aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, which was involved in the crash, are critical for transportation in Alaska. With over 200 villages existing beyond the road network, Alaskans depend on these planes similar to how others in the continental U.S. rely on cars. These aircraft are essential for various necessities, including medical appointments and everyday travel.
The doomed flight was scheduled to travel from Unalakleet to Nome, a journey of around 150 miles. Tragically, officials lost communication with the plane less than an hour after it departed, approximately 30 miles from Nome.
Post-crash analysis indicated the plane’s departure weight was estimated to be 9,865 pounds—exceeding the aircraft’s maximum permissible weight for takeoff in icing conditions by around 1,058 pounds. According to the pilot operating handbook, this maximum weight should be about 8,807 pounds for such conditions.
Johnson stated that determining whether the excess weight contributed to the crash is underway. Icing was forecast along the route, with reports of snow and some freezing rain in Nome. NTSB investigators are assessing what information the pilot had concerning weather conditions and what existed at the time of the crash.
Weather frequently poses challenges in remote parts of Alaska, and flying is risky despite its necessity, noted Whitney Power Wilson, an aviation accident lawyer and pilot based in Anchorage. She underscored the dangers of icing, particularly for smaller aircraft frequently operating in such conditions.
The investigation also noted the plane was flying at altitudes where icing risks were moderate. NTSB chairperson Jennifer Homendy had previously highlighted these conditions as potentially hazardous to light aircraft during a news conference in Nome.
Communication between the pilot and air traffic control indicates the flight was informed of a temporary runway closure in Nome for deicing. The autopilot disengaged shortly after an advisory to descend, and the plane’s speed notably decreased.
The anti-icer system on the aircraft, intended to prevent ice buildup, was examined alongside preflight procedures. The pilot assured ground staff at Unalakleet airport that deicing fluid was sufficiently topped up, though the system for logging its replenishment is informal.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported no distress signals received from the crash site. The wreckage was later discovered on a drifting ice floe, with the crash claiming the lives of all on board.
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Further contributions were made from Anchorage, Alaska.
